People are often appointed as leaders on the strength of their success in different and previous circumstances. Past success may not be relevant to current challenges. What is more important is to know how to learn from experience and be able to adapt rather than to do what was successful elsewhere in a different situation.

In an new book ‘High Flyers – developing the next generation of leaders’, Morgan W. McCall Jr suggests that rather than take and hone existing potential in individuals, the responsibility for effective leadership development now is to help talented people acquire new abilities by being supported through challenging leadership experiences and to learn from these. These both strengthen talent and provide deep new learning for the individual, including when that experience involves failure. Individuals learn most from the things which challenge and stretch them most (often new and unfamiliar things) and, if they are given effective support, they can make quantum leaps in their skill and see that what skills, behaviours, etc., work in one place or situation may well not work effectively in others.

Although courses have their place, stretching work experiences (secondments, projects, placements), which provide challenges relevant to the leadership required for the particular business and circumstances, are the key to developing the most effective leaders.

Leadership development, a strategic priority itself, needs to be explicitly linked to the business’s strategy so that the skills which are developed are of real value to the success and future of the business. The individual should be accountable for real business achievements. Top executives need to visibly model their commitment to developing their people and active coaching / mentoring support should be in place. Managers should be accountable for supporting their people in their learning.

It is clear that organisations and individuals have responsibilities for the success of the development of new abilities for future leaders and this book gives some very helpful pointers as to what these are.

Ian Graham
Principal
+44 175 287 3198
The Hotel Solutions Partnership Ltd