It’s rare today for most organizations to invest in their people. Here’s the thing though, if you are a leader in a small/medium business or even a Fortune 500 organization, the future is your people creating a remarkable market advantage – one that sets you apart from the competitors. And that is not going to happen by accident! Your remarkable market advantage is going to come from your people and partners delivering true differentiation that aligns with your brand, values, purpose, and vision.
Organizations that invest in their team and… invest in growing their young talent into remarkable leaders, will be the clear winners.
Unfortunately, the others – the organizations that cut employee development before executive perks – will languish in mediocrity before suffering a slow painful demise.
If you think that short term EBITDA gains from unintelligent cost cutting measures is the answer, you are cutting off the head of the proverbial Golden Goose.
It is now more important than ever that senior leaders in the organization take an active role in developing new talent within the company. And by active, I mean being personally involved in programs to nurture and grow the very best leaders in the organization. Mentoring, Mastermind Teams, shadowing projects, case studies, and role modeling. Making it safe for risk taking, mistakes, learning, growth, and development.
As a leader, if you are not mentoring an up and coming leader, my question is simply: why not?!
If your business is going to grow in these crazy times, you have to grow leaders.
Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, partner at Incrementa Consulting Inc., #1 Best Selling Author, and International Keynote Speaker. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, follow Robert on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
