July 2009 Archives

When it comes to capital investment and other purchasing assessments, businesses are highly adept at measuring ROI down to the last cent. These calculations serve as a reliable rationale for most business decisions, but there is at least one investment area in which ROI has yet to prove its worth as a benchmark.

Let's say you're a senior HR executive of a large corporation, and the deadline on a major decision is quickly approaching. You have to decide whether or not to send a group of mid-level managers to a leadership development course. The cost is a couple thousand dollars per manager, and it's up to you to quantify the potential return on your investment. Where to start?

My point is this: Although there are several proposed metrics for the organizational impact of leadership development on managers, it's hard, if not impossible, to forecast the exact financial return from something such as leadership development. According to BNET, corporations spend an average of 36 percent of revenue on human capital expenses, but only 16 percent say they have more than a moderate understanding of the return on human capital investment. There is no longstanding theory regarding the ROI of leadership development, employers clearly see an immense benefit from investing in their mid and senior-level managers. Great leaders not only generate higher net income and increase morale, but they also have an innate ability to identify and exploit the potential of their employees.

So when firms get the chance to send their promising managers to a course aimed at raising self awareness, building relationships, and increasing communication skills, among other things, it almost seems like a no-brainer.

Can you put a price on true leadership?

-Sam Battan, Business Intern, Executive Education Team

I think we can all agree that leadership in the last few years has been redefined by leaders and their followers as a result of a host of unprecedented events. Between the current global economic recession and the election of the US's first African-American president, I have seen and heard comments about leadership go from dismal cynicism to joyful hope. In my many conversations with executives from a whole range of industries, at least I have found agreement among all of them on how leadership should be approached. They all tell me it is about relationships. Initiating, growing, and sustaining those relationships. And the most important relationship they all agree on is the relationship that the leader has first and foremeost with him/herself. Leadership begins with self-awareness...emotional intelligence, a clear understanding and commitment to one's values, beliefs,and morals. It is about being willing and able to follow, first, what you know to be ethically and morally right!

Once a man or woman knows for certain what he or she stands for and will not compromise no matter what the short or long term consequences, then he or she is ready to lead.
What I focus on in my seminars is application of real life scenarios to determine some re-acquaintance with one's values and leadership style. I introduce a variety of points-of-view to challenge participants to adopt a more open and tolerant perspective on themselves and those that follow them. We actively role play those scenarios, discuss their results, and share new ideas and creative alternatives.

In the end, "leader" is just another title, another role one plays. Behind that title, that role, there should be an emotionally and intellectually mature human being. That's where we start...assessing our strengths and challenges and defining a more responsible and integral relationship with ourselves. We will learn from those who have failed and from those who have succeeded as leaders. In the end, I hope that my participants can see themselves and those around them through a much bigger and clearer lens...It all goes back to perspective.

To learn more about my 4-day intensive leadership course, head towards the Peak Performance Leadership website or E-mail CU's Exec Ed staff. I also invite you to leave a comment with any personal experience regarding leadership!

Welcome to the Leeds School of Business Executive Education blog. My team is very excited to start this journey, and we hope you will find our blog to be informative and thought provoking. We plan on addressing the important issues associated with our industry, spotlighting our local businesses and community partners, featuring guest bloggers such as members from our world renowned faculty and industry experts, and sharing information about our upcoming courses and programs. As new bloggers, we are open to your ideas and topic suggestions and look forward to you joining in on the conversation!