Every organization seeks to establish a program that develops the next generation of leaders.
But the most successful programs develop leaders at all levels of the organization, not just those who are next in line on the succession plan.
“You’re investing in everybody,” Cynthia Rowan, president of Performance Management Solutions, tells 2019 CUNA Human Resources & Organizational Development Council Conference attendees Tuesday in Anaheim.
Rowan suggests several steps to create a high-impact leadership development program that equips employees at every level with the skills necessary to lead:
• Assess, define, and develop. Think about leadership development and why you want to implement a program at your credit union. Define the purpose and desired outcomes, and tie them to your organization’s mission and values.
Also, identify the competencies—what leadership looks like—at all levels of the organization and how you’ll identify leadership effectiveness.
“That’s critical,” Rowan says. “You’re investing in everybody.”
• Gain commitment. Senior leadership must embrace the philosophy behind the program and clearly define their role.
• Create a process. Three pieces are necessary for successful program:
• Implement the program. Spend one-quarter of your time building the program, another quarter delivering the program, and the rest of your time sustaining it with coaching and mentoring.
“This is where the program becomes an investment and not an expense,” Rowan says.
• Evaluate. Find out what participants learned, how they incorporate new skills into their daily work, and how this impacts the credit union’s retention, profitability, and competitiveness.
Visit CUNA News for more conference coverage, and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNAJennifer, @CUNA_News, @cumagazine, @CUNACouncils, and by using the #HRODCouncil hashtag. Learn more about the CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council, a member-led professional society for credit union executives, at cunacouncils.org.