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+--- Thread: Problems with Leadership Programs (/Thread-Problems-with-Leadership-Programs)
Problems with Leadership Programs - sanantone - 06-14-2018
Whether it's a leadership development program within a company, a university's executive leadership course, or a degree program, there are outcome issues that need to be addressed.
This article is more of an opinion, but the author is correct based on research data. Leadership is a vague concept that can't be measured, so the goal of the company should be to produce leaders who can get results. Every organization has its own set of goals. If you're a for-profit business, your goals will likely include increased sales and productivity from employees. If you're a non-profit or governmental organization, then you might be looking to reduce turnover and improve the outcomes of the clients or community residents served. These goals require different skills and possibly even different leadership styles that canned leadership curriculum cannot address.
https://www.td.org/insights/why-most-leadership-development-programs-are-not-worth-the-time-and-money
This article talks about studies that show that many leadership programs are a waste of money due to poor design. An interesting finding that was mentioned is that adult learners forget 50% of what they learned in a lecture within two weeks. It also talks about how the quality of leadership programs are usually measured by how many people are promoted or surveys asking program participants about their satisfaction level. The actual effectiveness of leadership programs is usually not measured. Getting a promotion based on perceived qualifications does not matter if performance is not improved.
The author goes on to make recommendations on how to improve leadership development.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2014/09/23/if-you-think-leadership-development-is-a-waste-of-time-you-may-be-right/#2cad188c5bf4
Here's another article on why leadership programs fail.
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leadership/why-leadership-development-programs-fail
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - Life Long Learning - 06-14-2018
True leadership can't be taught out of a book. It is also a lot about work culture! Corporate greed produces a different type of leader. Army infantry commanders eat last in the field (after all the men). To this day (long retired) I still eat last in a group of civilians out of habit. Leadership is a lifestyle NOT a theory out of a book.
Just today I received a nice looking college certificate in leadership and management in the mail. It was mostly given to me as I led 800-men hands on. Only a fool thinks they can teach leadership out of a seminar.
My next few years are about going to Ivy League Executive Education Certificate programs. It will be humorous.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - dfrecore - 06-15-2018
(06-14-2018, 09:08 PM)Life Long Learning Wrote: Corporate greed produces a different type of leader.
You say "corporate greed," I say "managing limited resources efficiently." Since most companies are run MUCH more efficiently than any government body EVER, I would say that it may produce a better leader than most government type programs.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - Life Long Learning - 06-15-2018
(06-15-2018, 02:27 AM)dfrecore Wrote:(06-14-2018, 09:08 PM)Life Long Learning Wrote: Corporate greed produces a different type of leader.
You say "corporate greed," I say "managing limited resources efficiently." Since most companies are run MUCH more efficiently than any government body EVER, I would say that it may produce a better leader than most government type programs.
You bring up a good point. I would rather be effective than efficient. They are NOT the same. Managing is not Leadership. Two different things.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - sanantone - 06-15-2018
This is why I believe different leadership styles are needed for different types of organizations. Governments have contracted out traditionally governmental tasks to for-profit companies to save money. They're usually successful at saving money, but it comes at a cost in other areas. The employees are often poorly-trained, have lower morale, and the companies experience higher turnover rates. This is the reason why for-profit companies are rarely trusted with maximum security prisons. Employees are seen as a warm body to fulfill contract requirements. That's management of resources, but that's not leadership.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - Life Long Learning - 06-15-2018
(06-15-2018, 10:23 AM)sanantone Wrote: This is why I believe different leadership styles are needed for different types of organizations. Governments have contracted out traditionally governmental tasks to for-profit companies to save money. They're usually successful at saving money, but it comes at a cost in other areas. The employees are often poorly-trained, have lower morale, and the companies experience higher turnover rates. This is the reason why for-profit companies are rarely trusted with maximum security prisons. Employees are seen as a warm body to fulfill contract requirements. That's management of resources, but that's not leadership.
I agree that management of resources is not leadership.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - dfrecore - 06-15-2018
True. I misspoke. But corporate greed is not worse than government corruption, which is rampant. And while companies can treat employees like warm bodies, government has it's own problems - like having ZERO incentive to improve, since most people can't ever be fired. If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is (see the VA for your proof). I could name 100 agencies that are terrible, and wouldn't even be getting past the tip of that iceberg.
Anyway, good or bad leadership can happen anywhere. I have MANY friends who have talked about terrible leadership in all branches of the military - so just because you eat last doesn't make you a good leader. That's just protocol. Leadership is way more than that.
Sorry to get off on this rant, but "corporate greed" was unnecessary to say IMHO. I've had PLENTY of great leadership in companies where we actually had to make money in order for the company to continue to exist. Oops, didn't mean to point that out, but ALL companies have to make money in order to exist. That's how it works in the real world.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - Life Long Learning - 06-15-2018
To stay on OP discussion:
Behavioral Differences between Leaders and Managers
TRAITS – LEADER vs. Manager
Focus: Leading People vs. Management Work
Horizon: Long-Term vs. Short-Term
Blame: Takes vs. Blames
Credit: Gives vs. Takes
Concern: Does the “right” thing vs. Does things right
Risk: Takes vs. minimizes
Style: transformational vs. transactional
Percussion: Sell vs. Tell
Dynamic: Proactive vs. Reactive
Energy: Passon vs. Control
Power: Personal Charisma vs. Formal Authority
Approach: Sets Direction vs. Plans Details
Seeks: Vision vs. Objectives
*many others
REFERENCE. Foundations of Management, 2010, 3rd Ed., Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), page 36
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - sanantone - 06-15-2018
I also agree that you need to do more than eat last to be a good leader. It is difficult to get fired from the government, but the people who need to be fired usually don't advance. Otherwise, government agencies tend to be excellent at employee development and tend to promote from within. Also, pay raises are contingent upon satisfactory performance evaluations, so there is plenty incentive to improve.
RE: Problems with Leadership Programs - Life Long Learning - 06-15-2018
(06-15-2018, 01:10 PM)sanantone Wrote: I also agree that you need to do more than eat last to be a good leader. It is difficult to get fired from the government, but the people who need to be fired usually don't advance. Otherwise, government agencies tend to be excellent at employee development and tend to promote from within. Also, pay raises are contingent upon satisfactory performance evaluations, so there is plenty incentive to improve.
I agree. That was just one minor example. Leading-by-example (LBE) is a leader trait, not a manager. Leading combat patrols from the front when you do not have to is a leader trait not a manager. Managers order other people to harm without self-sacrifice and risk for themselves. Leaders lead from the front and have the same risk or more. This I know first hand.
ChinaMart executives manage from ivory towers while NOT on food stamps and making 1188-times their common workers. Real leadership
http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/23/news/companies/walmart-ceo-pay/index.html
Both corporate and government managers are a mixed bag. There are good and bad in both. The systems often corrupt both in different ways.
In the end Management is not Leadership.