Your organization likely has some good leaders—and even a handful of great ones. But what really makes the difference between a good leader and a great leader? The answer lies in whether they can strategically develop and apply their leadership skills.
When we say “leadership skills,” we’re referring to a person’s ability to inspire and advance others toward a goal. Although this can manifest in many different ways, leadership strategy at its core is an individual’s capacity to create opportunities—for themselves, for their team members, and for the organization as a whole. Basic leadership skills include negotiation, conflict resolution, adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management (just to name a few.)
The Importance of Continued Leadership Development Today
The Evolution of Leadership Learning
The business world has always needed leaders, so what makes today’s need for leadership development so urgent? Harvard Business Review equates this growing need to an environment that is more “volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous” than ever. As a result, both employers and employees are prioritizing the learning of organizational capabilities and looking for opportunities to build soft, transferable skills.
In a list of foundationally necessary job skills, strategic leadership is among the most desirable. This term encompasses essential skills for any job or career, such as one’s ability to:
- Anticipate threats and opportunities.
- Challenge the status quo.
- Recognize patterns and seek new insights.
- Make informed decisions quickly.
- Promote a culture of inquiry.
- Find common ground.
So what types of learning practices must companies establish in order to cultivate these skills and make them stick? To create and maintain good quality leadership within an organization, you can try the following approaches:
Implement Skills Practice Training Through Situational Learning
Situational learning, also referred to as practice-based learning, works by mimicking real-world situations to better engage learners and refine skill practice with applicable techniques. Practice-based simulations present realistic scenarios and actionable choices, encouraging participants to use practical techniques and apply their knowledge as they would out in the field. Through a gamified learn-by-doing approach, immersive learning simulations go beyond the abilities of traditional learning models.
Incorporate Constructive, Tailored Feedback
When learners receive specific, actionable feedback, it’s easier for them to identify shortcomings, set goals, and assess their progress. According to FranklinCovey, thoughtful, tailored feedback is “a powerful tool to foster improvement and motivation,” as it goes beyond basic critique and intends to assist and uplift learners while sharpening their skills.
Participant performance can be evaluated in various ways, but simulation scoring helps to quantify learner actions by generating intuitive reports based on program data and analytics. Not only does this real-time feedback enable the learner to identify areas for improvement, it also allows leaders to plan more effectively, offering better visibility into participant performance and training needs.
Although everyone can understand the importance of constructive feedback for learners, adequate feedback is also important for program hosts and learning leaders. How else would they know their initiatives are optimized for maximum efficacy? Learning simulations developed in partnership with the Regis Company provide actionable insights for learning leaders to fine-tune their corporate training programs and initiatives.
Create a Safe, Immersive Environment and Maximize Psychological Safety
Learning programs should simulate real life to create tangible experiences while also allowing for errors. In other words, organizations should aim to foster an environment in which learners are allowed (and even encouraged) to make mistakes, so they can actively learn from them in the context of their role.
When leadership eliminates the pressure on participants to always be correct, they open up endless potential for productive learning. The goal is to realistically set the stage, offering multiple dynamic scenarios and the resources necessary for participants to develop mental agility and decision-making skills. A simulated training environment provides realistic and relevant business development insights with a safety net.
Leverage the Latest Technology to Support Human Needs
The widespread sentiment seems to be that humans are attempting to use technology to replace people in certain roles. The Regis Company, however, is part of the community that believes that technology such as AI should be used in partnership with humans to develop AI-supported, human-centered approaches to learning.
One of AI’s greatest advantages is its aptitude to adapt its functions to support diverse inputs. In other words, the more the learner uses the technology, the better optimized their learning is. While the participant learns, the AI also learns how to best relay the necessary information for maximum understanding, improving retention and speed-to-performance.
The adoption of AI technology for corporate training initiatives has resulted in faster, more customized design and development of learning experiences. Tools like ReX AI offer everything you need to create effective simulation programs and implement skill practice experiences for any audience.
