Preparing for Leadership: What It Takes to Lead

Are you considering leadership training as preparation for taking the next significant step in your career? Learn strategies for becoming visible and selected for a leadership position while simultaneously developing the essential leadership skills and competencies that confident and capable leaders need to succeed.

This specialized leadership training course has been carefully designed to prepare emerging leaders to confidently approach their upcoming challenges and new responsibilities. Throughout the program, you will gain insight into the essence, character, and critical thinking dimensions of authentic leadership. By engaging in role-playing activities, completing self-assessment instruments, and participating in realistic leadership training scenarios, you will investigate the multifaceted roles that leaders play, including strategist, change agent, coach, manager, skilled communicator, mentor, and valued team member. Additionally, you will develop your authentic and distinctive leadership style that will create maximum positive impact on others.

Recommended Participants:

Any manager who needs leadership training in order to transition into a leadership position or who is preparing to assume a new leadership responsibility or assignment

How You Will Benefit from This Leadership Training:

• Develop a clear and accurate understanding of what a true leader is, and equally important, what a leader is not
• Develop and project a stronger, more dynamic professional image
• Discover and define your own unique and distinctive leadership style and approach
• Assess and identify which important leadership attributes and qualities you already possess
• Apply the lessons and insights gained from your leadership training to step into your first leadership position with increased confidence and capability
• Become noticed and recognized by learning how to present yourself and communicate in ways that align with leadership expectations
• Learn what colleagues expect and genuinely respect in a leader
• Apply lessons learned through leadership training to develop and refine your skills in acquiring, building and using power and influence in positive and productive ways
• Develop practical strategies to motivate and inspire your team, including managing and motivating individuals who may be challenging or resistant
• Protect yourself and your career by learning how to recognize and successfully navigate organizational politics and power dynamics

Topics and Areas You Will Explore:

• Is There a Leader Within You?

• What Subjects and Topics Do Leaders Discuss?
• How Should You Project Your Leadership Image?
• What Strategies Can Help You Build Your Influence and Power?
• How Should You Go About Developing Key Relationships?
• How Can You Successfully Handle and Navigate Organizational Politics?
• What Are Effective Ways to Motivate People?
• Practical Approaches for Your First Day, Week, Month, and Year in a Leadership Role

Detailed Course Content:

Is There a Leader Within You?

• Discussing the qualities and competencies that senior management actively seeks in candidates for leadership positions
• Building understanding of the specific challenges you will likely face once you assume a leadership role

What Subjects and Topics Do Leaders Discuss?

• Identifying and discovering your natural and authentic leadership style
• Learning to adapt your personal leadership style based on the unique needs of different individuals and situations

How Should You Project Your Leadership Image?

• Learning how to present and project the image of a positive and capable leader

What Strategies Can Help You Build Your Influence and Power?

• Exploring and demonstrating various approaches and methods that leaders can employ to build their power and influence

How Should You Go About Developing Key Relationships?

• Recognizing and identifying the strategic partnerships and alliances you should focus on building

How Can You Successfully Handle and Navigate Organizational Politics?

• Learning and practicing strategies and approaches for gaining the support and buy-in of others for your initiatives and agenda

What Are Effective Ways to Motivate People?

• Evaluating and assessing the various factors and approaches that effectively motivate different types of people

Practical Approaches for Your First Day, Week, Month, and Year in a Leadership Role

• Developing and creating comprehensive strategies for becoming noticed and ultimately selected to move into a leadership position

Learning Outcomes and Objectives:

Learning Objectives

• Identify and Recognize Respected Leadership Qualities and Start Building Your Own Authentic Leadership Voice and Presence.
• Gain Valuable Insights Into How to Develop and Actively Pursue Your Distinctive and Personal Leadership Style.
• Project a Positive, Trusted, and Professional Image to Your Colleagues and Leadership.
• Identify and Effectively Use Your Sources of Power and Influence.
• Build and Expand Your Networks by Intentionally Developing Important Key Relationships.
• Participate Effectively and Skillfully in Organizational Politics and Dynamics.
• Develop the Skills to Motivate Others and Learn How to Avoid Behaviors That Demoralize Team Members Across All Personality Types and Demographics.

Discovering the Leader Within You

• Identifying the Key Qualities and Competencies of Leaders Who Are Effective and Respected.
• Honestly Assessing Your Own Proficiency with the Essential Qualities and Skills That Effective Leaders Possess

Leadership Styles and Effective Communication

• Identifying and Learning About Different Leadership Styles Available to You.
• Assessing Your Own Natural and Preferred Leadership Style.
• Identifying Effective Communication Patterns and Learning How to Use Them Skillfully.
• Learning About the Types of Topics and Subjects That Leaders Typically Address.
• Understanding and Explaining the Value and Benefits of Clear Vision, Mission, and Value Statements That Align the Entire Organization.
• Creating Compelling Vision, Mission, and Value Statements for Your Leadership.

How Should You Project Your Leadership Image?

• Developing and Projecting Executive Presence and a Strong Positive Professional Leadership Image.
• Learning the Key Factors That Impact Trust and Credibility.
• Building and Establishing Genuine Credibility and Authenticity in Your Interactions with Others.
• Applying Your Knowledge of Your Own Leadership Skills and Presence to More Effectively Lead Your Own Teams and Direct Reports.

Building Relationships, Networks, and Political Acumen

• Identifying the Various Sources of Power and Influence Available to Leaders.
• Assessing Your Own Current Levels of Power and Influence in Your Organization.
• Strategically Building and Expanding Your Power and Influence Networks Through Key Relationships and Connections.
• Learning and Demonstrating Ways That Leaders Can Build and Develop Their Power and Influence.
• Understanding and Explaining the Difference Between Constructive Politics and Destructive Politics.
• Learning Why Leaders Must Understand, Recognize and Participate in Organizational Politics and Dynamics.
• Identifying the Different Types of Political Organizational Structures That Exist in Various Organizations.
• Learning and Applying Strategies for Successfully Gaining the Support and Buy-in of Others for Your Initiatives and Agenda.
• Engaging Effectively and Professionally with Individuals Who May Be Adversaries or Resistance Sources.

Motivating and Mentoring Others for Success

• Identifying Effective Ways to Motivate and Actively Engage Your Team Members.
• Developing the Skills to Manage and Conduct Productive Coaching Discussions.
• Understanding and Explaining the Differences Between Mentoring and Coaching as Leadership Tools.
• Identifying the Key Characteristics That Make for Effective Mentors and Support Positive Mentor-Mentee Relationships