How to Choose a Leadership Development Program

Leadership is an ongoing journey. In today’s fast-paced environment, leaders are constantly challenged to learn new skills or refine existing ones. As a result, there are a variety of training programs and opportunities out there that will give leaders the chance to stay up to date with the latest business trends and/or improve the skills that they already possess. But, when there are so many options, how do you choose the program that is right for you? 

Below, we’ve broken down some of the most common options for leadership development and provided brief insights, to help you pick the best option for you.  

Skill-Based Training  

Like the name suggests, skill-based training programs are designed to teach you a specific skillset. This can include industry specific training, through trade schools and apprenticeship programs, as well as things like how to build your brand, how to use a customer relationship management (CRM) tool, tips on how to be more productive and so on. 

Pros: 

• These trainings are great, if you’re looking to improve and/or gain a specific skill or obtain a certification 
• Companies may offer training opportunities to employees, at no additional cost  
• Skill-based training programs, typically, offer a wide range of topics  

Cons: 

• Skill-based trainings can be general or cookie-cutter  
• Some of the strategies or tools provided, may not be applicable to you, your team or your organization 
• It can be difficult to share or integrate your learnings with those who did not participate in the training 

One-on-One Mentoring or Coaching 

We all need a little outside perspective sometimes. So, it is no surprise that mentoring and coaching are popular development options for many leaders.  

Pros: 

• They are tailored to you and your goals 
• You have a safe and trustworthy advisor to turn to, for guidance and perspective 
• It can positively impact you, both, professionally and personally  
• It can be highly impactful, when coaching/mentoring is part of an overall organizational initiative 

Cons: 

• It can take some time to find a mentor or coach that’s right for you 
• You can get stuck in a routine, if you aren’t being challenged  
• Sometimes there isn’t a clear development plan, which can impact your overall experience  
• It can be limiting, if there isn’t a tie to the organizational strategy and/or direction 

Peer Group  

Being a part of a peer group is another popular development option for leaders. Oftentimes, this is a local group that is made up of people from various industries and backgrounds.  

Pros: 

• Peer groups can help you build relationships and is a great way to network with other leaders in your community  
• Being a part of a peer group exposes you to a wide range of perspectives and learnings 
• It can provide a safe space for you to share your ideas and challenges, to get constructive feedback  
• Peer support and accountability

Cons: 

• Some peer groups are limited to specific titles, roles, backgrounds, etc.  
• It may take some time to find a peer group that is the right fit for you 
• There can be a rotation of members   

Customized Leadership Training  

Why go through leadership training alone? Why not as a team? Whether it be leaders from different departments or a core group of decision-makers, customized leadership training can be tailored to fit your specific needs.  

Pros: 

• This training is a shared experience that builds a common language and skillsets 
• The training is created to meet the specific needs of your team or organization 
• It can help to create stronger collaboration between coworkers  

Cons: 

• It can be more costly, due to the customization of the program  
• It may require more time commitment, versus doing something off-the-shelf 
• Not everyone may be bought in to the idea but still have to participate 

As you can see from this list, there are a lot of leadership development opportunities out there – each with their own benefits and drawbacks. At the end of the day, though, you have to what’s best for you and what best aligns with your goals. Whether you’re looking for a mentor or participating in a multitude of opportunities, mentioned above, we hope this breakdown helps you gain a little more clarity about how you want to invest in yourself, as a leader. 

If you would like to learn more about the leadership development options that The Utech Group has to offer, connect with us today! With over 30 years of experience, we’ve worked with all levels of leadership and have helped hundreds of organizations, throughout the USA and Canada, unlock their true potential.