Leadership development is a critical aspect of any organization's success. However, as the world of work evolves, so do expectations of leaders and managers. Today, more than ever, managers must be authentic, empathetic, and adaptive to effectively lead their teams and organizations.
Unfortunately, many HR leaders are struggling to prepare their employees for this new reality. In fact, a recent survey found that 60% of HR leaders identified leader and manager effectiveness as a priority, yet 24% said that their current leadership development approach is not preparing leaders for the future of work.
One major problem holding employees back from becoming effective leaders is their own emotions of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. These emotional barriers can prevent employees from fully embracing the new call for "human" leadership and impede their progress as professionals.
So, what can organizations do to overcome these barriers and develop the effective leaders they need?
Take a new approach to leadership development, one that recognizes the importance of addressing emotional barriers and promotes human leadership.
By focusing on helping employees overcome their own doubts, fears, and uncertainties, organizations can empower them to be the authentic, empathetic, and adaptive leaders that today's work environment demands.
71% of employers surveyed by CareerBuilder said they value EQ over IQ, reporting that employees with high emotional intelligence are more likely to stay calm under pressure, resolve conflict effectively, and respond to co-workers with empathy.
One way organizations can build leaders within is through the use of emotional intelligence training. Emotional intelligence training can help employees become more self-aware, develop their empathy, and improve their ability to manage emotions under pressure, ultimately making them more effective leaders.
Thrive is proud to offer a variety of leadership and emotional intelligence courses and specializations through Coursera. Thrive participants have access to educational content from top universities such as Yale and University of Toronto to further their leadership abilities.
Ventana Research shows ROI in training quadruples from 22% to 88% when reinforced by infield coaching, meaning training alone is not always enough to help employees achieve their full potential as leaders.
Alongside the traditional onboarding process, organizations can provide coaching sessions in addition to the training, where employees can discuss their challenges, goals, and progress openly. These sessions can provide employees with the support they need to overcome their emotional barriers and develop the confidence they need to lead effectively.
Everyone’s career path is unique and sometimes individuals require tailored career guidance. Thrive’s career coaching services enables our participants to connect with an experienced coach at any time and get the personalized support they need to become effective leaders.
Providing mentorship programs is another effective tool, through which employees can learn from more experienced leaders and managers. This can help employees shorten the learning curve, and give them the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights from a seasoned leader.
By addressing the emotional barriers holding employees back, organizations can take a proactive approach to leadership development and prepare their employees for the future of work. With the right training and support in place, every employee can become the authentic, empathetic, and adaptive leader that today's organizations need to thrive.
Thrive helps HR leaders execute leadership development strategies with a fully integrated career wellness platform that includes advanced career management features, executive coaching services and tailored career development programs. Thrive’s unique marketplace model provides your employees with ultimate flexibility and choice when it comes to their career growth, and our platform’s intelligent career pathing tools give employees insight into how the industry is changing so they may pursue their goals with clarity and confidence.
Discover how Thrive can help your organization develop more effective leaders and grow talent from within by scheduling your demo today.
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(the industry average is 28)
