Every organization has influential employees, but because they don’t have a role like “manager” or “director” as part of their titles they are often overlooked for leadership training.
“It may be someone in product development who without any direct reports, plays an essential role in the selection and development of new products,” Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman wrote on the HBR Blog Network. “It may be a key salesperson, who because of some unique connection with customers exerts a powerful influence on the organization’s go to market strategy.”
Zenger and Folkman believe that these employees are true leaders, too.
“They often get overlooked for any kind of leadership development because they don’t manage or supervise anyone and aren’t thought to need training in management basics like budgeting,” they wrote.
If you have these types of influential employees, it’s wise to invest in leadership training for them. Zenger and Folkman offer four reasons why:
1) Investing in their leadership development will make these valuable people feel highly valued.
2) Talented individuals are more inclined to stay with organizations when they feel they are progressing.
3) They will enjoy increased success.
4) Some of them could well develop into excellent managers.
Please read their article on the HBR Blog Network for the complete story. And while you’re thinking about leadership training, consider applying for the IAVM Senior Executive Symposium, May 12-15, at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Applications close March 31.
Spot of blog topic Jason!!
Thank you, David!