So, we’ve come to the end of the book, but certainly not the end of the journey. That’s how leadership development should feel within an organization: as a journey. Turning around poor and even moderate performance in a day is miraculous…and unreasonable. The path isn’t a marathon or a sprint but a long hike through familiar and foreign lands. Try to enjoy the view a little.

Since the case studies deserve their own thorough read, a few key takeaways are summarized below.

Key Takeaways

• Case studies reveal not just how prevalent the need for leadership development is, but they give insights otherwise easily overlooked.
• Stay nimble by learning through the mistakes of others.
• Sharpening critical thinking skills start with being willing to ask the hard questions.
• Using only one assessment provides limited insight, compared to using multiple assessments that dig deeper into behavior
• Customizing development plans is the best way to realistically implement real leadership development

A Journey of Team Effort

One of the most popular critiques is that leadership development feels endless. After all, you have to put a lot of time and energy into people. What if they leave? What if they still don’t perform?

Trying to predict the whims of people is often akin to thinking about whether or not it’ll rain today. It might not rain today, but it will happen. It’s up to the organization to plan for weather and the changing seasons. People change, too. For better or worse, the journey is ultimately yours. Protect the organization, the employees, and yourself. But above all, leave room for new and wonderful things to happen.

These case studies are near and dear to me, and represent real time dialogue, analysis, and work with organizations of all sizes. I encourage you to dig in, embrace the lessons learned, and have a little fun while you’re at it.

Good luck. And come back next month for something a bit different here on the blog. My goal is always to give you the tools and resources you need to dig deeper into leadership development. You can do it.

Dig Into Those Case Studies in Developing World Class Leaders: The Ultimate Guide to Leadership Development

Don’t go it alone. These case studies are covered in full in Chapter 12 of Developing World Class Leaders: The Ultimate Guide to Leadership Development.

Did you miss the deep dive on assessments? Check out the Strategic View of Hiring podcast episode, Exploring the World of Assessments.

Check out the book store and order a copy of Developing World Class Leaders: The Ultimate Guide to Leadership Development today.

To receive a copy of our Leadership Competency Inventory, complete with 64 competencies, just send an email.