240: Why Inclusive Leadership Needs To Be Top Learning Priority with Julie Kratz
Mar 3, 2024
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Discover why inclusive leadership is crucial for the success of businesses, with a focus on the importance of soft skills like emotional intelligence and effective communication. Learn about the high ROI from leadership programs and the growing need for leadership development in current employee training.
Employers are witnessing a $7 ROI for every $1 invested in leadership programs emphasizing soft skills like emotional intelligence and effective communication.
Leadership development should address specific business challenges like turnover by focusing on measurable outcomes using models like the KAB method.
Deep dives
Importance of Human Skills in Leadership Development
Employers are seeing a $7 return on investment for every dollar spent on leadership programs focusing on human skills like emotional intelligence and effective communication. With the shifting workplace dynamics, these so-called 'soft skills' are now essential for success, transitioning from being nice-to-have to must-have qualities. A report highlighted that 60% of learning leaders consider leadership as the most significant development gap, emphasizing the crucial need to prioritize leadership development within organizations.
Measuring Return on Investment in Leadership Development
Leadership development programs need to focus on measurable outcomes using models like the KAB method, assessing knowledge, attitude, and behavior changes. By tracking shifts in knowledge, attitude (such as viewing empathy as a strength), and subsequent behavioral modifications, the effectiveness of these programs can be evaluated. It is crucial to tie leadership development initiatives back to addressing specific business challenges like turnover or engagement, ensuring that the investment in skill development directly impacts organizational success.
According to a recent report titled “The State of L&D in 2024,” employers see a $7 ROI for every $1 spent on leadership programs, citing that traditional “soft” skills such as emotional intelligence and effective communication are not just nice-to-have, but rather must-have skills for leaders of the future. In this episode Julie shares key reasons why inclusive leadership is a must have for business leaders:
Sixty percent of learning leaders pinpointed leadership as the most significant gap in current employee development.
Sixty-six percent of learning and development (L & D) professionals identified leadership development as their primary learning focus, with diversity & inclusion and technical skills being second and third, respectively.
Leadership development is the most prioritized topic of learning-and-development focus.