Marketing leadership programs, coaching and consulting can be tricky. Ever notice that some people feel ashamed while others feel special to be sent for leadership coaching or development? “Maybe people will think something is wrong with me.” “Maybe they are considering me for a promotion.” It is important that coaches and leadership consultants market in a way that helps remove this stigma.  Years ago I did not always do that. I also strive to avoid the word training with leadership, although that’s a bit harder to do than it sounds.

Leadership development is all about optimizing relationships. So while it is true that leadership is also about being a visionary, if CEOs with a great vision cannot create buy-in, then they have a leadership crisis on their hands regarding their relationships with others.  No matter what the definition of leadership, success ultimately falls back on the quality of the leaders’ relationships within and beyond their corporate setting.

So, whether you are a client or vendor in this industry, how do you describe leadership development or whatever it is that you want to get out of such training (see, it’s hard to avoid that word!)? What key words do you use or look for to show the by-products of leadership services? What will it take for you to know you’ve had a successful leadership development experience?

As the 2010 Olympic games approach, we invite you to watch the games with a new perspective- as a leader.  The opening ceremonies are a great example of what it looks like when great resources-human capital- of different kinds, different backgrounds, and different origins come together to achieve a common goal.

Olympic coaches and successful leaders are both familiar with performance management.  As a leader, that is our job.  We are responsible for getting all the pieces of our organization to fit together cohesively for the success of everyone.  We are tasked with developing our resources-  our human capital- to the best of their ability, so they can compete in the marketplace for us.  Much like the Olympic athletes have undergone many years of training, we too, should put in the time for our employees to develop and to grow in their skills so they are at their best.

So let’s all watch the 2010 Olympic games with a new appreciation for what it takes to be a good leader!  To learn more about the 2010 Olympic games, visit the official website.

In the recent survey by the Conference Board research group, it was found that 45% of Americans are unsatisfied with their jobs.  This survey shows a drop of 4% since the previous results in 2008.  Read the full story here.

The Conference Board suggests that potential reasons for the dissatisfaction are:

• Fewer workers consider their jobs to be interesting.
• Incomes have not kept up with inflation.
• The soaring cost of health insurance has eaten into workers’ take-home pay.

Doc Holly says, “Downsizing and restructuring have been prolific corporate events long before the economy went south, and the resulting stress of fewer people doing more seems to be at the crux of this mounting workforce disengagement, a major threaten to the necessary team play that underscores which company cultures can best manage competition in the marketplace. The Leadership Trust® has noticed more recently the surge in requests for leadership/emotional intelligence training to address morale issues related to people reacting in fear toward a stressed and/or intimidating manager.”

Want to weigh in on your opinion?  Cast your vote on MSNBC‘s poll, “Are You Satisfied with Your Job?”

What does your company do to help ensure your employees are engaged and satisfied?

“First you will have to understand yourself, because the hardest person you will ever have to lead is yourself.  Second, to be an effective leader, you must take responsibility for your own development.” True North, by Bill George (Buy it here)

How else can you learn about others if you don’t first know your self?  Of course, hightened knowledge of self comes from experiencing Self-Awareness.  Our signature Personalized Leadership Development Program embraces this Self-Awareness element by subsuming within it a 2 and 1/2 day Self-Awareness Workshop.  Our graduates will tell you that this is the piece that really helps them grasp their own leadership styles and really make that permanent positive change.  Read testimonials here.

Read more about Self-Awareness here and give us a call to learn more about how we can help you go to that next higher level by going to the next deeper level!

www.leadershiptrust.org

In response to current economic conditions impacting both our current and future clients, The Leadership Trust® is offering half-off-the-tuition scholarship coupons that you can apply to our tuition-guaranteed, Personalized Leadership Development Program™ through December 2009!  Limit one coupon per company, accommodations not included.

Watch 14 of our graduates in less than 45 seconds describe their experience in the first of a series of videos.  Then download the coupon and save $2750 off tuition!

Coupon 2009

Coupon is valid for PLDPs July 2009-December 2009.  One coupon per company, accomodations not included. (www.leadershiptrust.org)