It’s no secret that cultivating a talented pool of future leaders is essential for an organization’s success. Yet, most struggle with the training and development of current leaders, much less planning for who’s next in the leadership chain. Add to it the challenge of training the younger generations, Millennials and Gen Z, who are used to learning in an entirely different way than traditional methods.

But don’t be fooled: Millennials and Gen Z value training and upskilling. In fact, it’s essential for their job satisfaction and willingness to stick around. One recent study found that 79% of Gen Z employees and 75% of Millennials said they’d actively look for a new job if their current employer didn’t offer upskilling opportunities.

That doesn’t mean that traditional, lengthy training sessions filled with PowerPoint presentations are going to cut it. These traits that define the younger generations are what they expect when it comes to learning:

• Digital Natives: Millennials and Gen Z grew up with technology and expect digital experiences in their learning.
• Purpose-Driven: They needs to understand the “why” behind training initiatives.
• Work-Life Balance: Millennials and Gen Z prioritize flexibility in when and how they learn.
• Feedback-Oriented: Regular performance feedback and recognition are crucial.

And the big one: time and efficiency. Millennials and Gen Z don’t want to spend hours in a classroom sitting and listening to a trainer. They do much better with shorter “bursts” of learning that fit training into their schedules without being overwhelming. That’s why Leah M Joppy and Associates has created Impact60, a series of 1-hour, highly focused, skills-based courses covering a variety of leadership topics. It’s an ideal way to start building your future pool of leaders while meeting them on their terms and expectations. Call us at 301-351-9523 or leah@lmja.com to receive course descriptions and pricing information.

Place someone in a leadership position and they may survive, but teach them how to lead, and they’ll thrive. In other words, effective leadership doesn’t just happen. It takes training and focused development.

Too often, organizations promote team members to leadership roles without making an investment in building their leadership skill set. And it can cause all kinds of problems: frustration on the part of the leader, poor morale from team members and an overall breakdown in communication.

To succeed, leaders need to build these 7 key leadership skills:

• Build relationships: Create partnerships, build trust and share ideas.
• Develop people: Help others become more effective through strength development and coaching.
• Drive change: Embrace change and set goals that align with a well-communicated vision.
• Inspire others: Encourage others through positivity, confidence and recognition.
• Think critically: Gather and evaluate information that leads to smart decisions.
• Communicate clearly: Share information regularly and concisely.
• Create accountability: Hold yourself and your team responsible for performance.

As you can see, the list is made up of soft skills (personal traits and abilities that determine how well you work, collaborate and communicate with others). They aren’t something a leader is necessarily born with, but fortunately they can be developed through strategic and focused training.

The good news is that leadership training doesn’t have to mean hours (or days) sitting in a class, missing work and having to play catch up. ‘Short courses’ are an increasingly popular way to develop and enhance leadership skills in a fraction of the time. Designed to upskill leaders rapidly, these focused training programs are flexible, practical and targeted. And leaders can start implementing what they’ve learned right away.

Sound interesting? Leah M Joppy and Associates has created Impact60, a series of 1-hour, highly focused, skills-based courses covering a variety of leadership topics. More learning, more impact and less time away from the day-to-day!  Call us at 301-351-9523 or leah@lmja.com to receive course descriptions and pricing information.