Corporate Training Tips

Effective business leaders don't stand still. They continually learn, looking for new and better ways to help their organization get ahead. 

Companies typically want the same things their employees want: a stable work environment, a well-defined career path, and the opportunity to make a difference. And while it's normal for some employees to move on to new opportunities or to eventually retire, companies generally plan for this workforce attrition by following an established hiring plan. But what happens when new employees decide to leave soon after they're hired, and long-time employees start to pack their bags, too? This trend may point to a more serious issue: a high employee turnover rate. 

Not long ago, employers relied on a list of job skills and previous work history to assess the qualifications of those considered for positions of leadership. An organization's leadership training programs were often reserved for those who showed a degree of natural ability. Today, the criteria for determining effective leadership skills has changed. Many employers are assessing their candidates on their level of emotional intelligence.

In the past, it was acceptable for the manager to give orders to workers without any input. The top executives and managers were in charge, and employees were supposed to blindly follow along. Leadership development in those days was more about learning how to tell people what to do than listening and working with others. These days, leaders must be willing to collaborate with their teams and build trusting relationships in order to accomplish organizational goals. Those with collaborative leadership skills benefit not only themselves, but also their teams and the company that they work for.

Company changes are a normal part of doing business. Unfortunately, they can also be very difficult for many of your employees. Employees in the middle of a big organizational shift may experience a number of emotions and other responses, including:

People often use the phrase "natural born leader". It's a flattering phrase, but in most cases, it's simply not true. Great leaders are rarely born with a superhuman ability to effectively influence others. They learn to lead through useful techniques and consistent development of leadership skills. As is true in any occupation, even the best leaders can continue to learn new methods and discover innovative approaches that will help them grow. Keep reading to learn about a few common traits that most great leaders possess.