The Leadership Academy is more than just a course; it’s a transformative experience. This blog post delves into the core lessons from the “Train the Trainer” portion of the Leadership Academy, shared by three remarkable individuals—Mike Allen, Elizabeth Reim, and Lorraine Brown. Through their journeys, we gain valuable insights into leadership accountability, human connection, and the importance of structured leadership development.
Meet the Disruptors: Three Leaders, Three Perspectives
Mike Allen, a seasoned logistics manager and former U.S. Army personnel, opened the discussion by introducing himself as the team lead of the "Dynamic Disruptors." He explained how his extensive career—both in the military and commercial logistics—had shaped his views on leadership. Joining him were Elizabeth Reim, a sensory scientist with over 30 years of experience, and Lorraine Brown, a 44-year veteran nurse with vast leadership experience. Together, they shared their perspectives on the value of the Leadership Academy and how it impacted their approach to leadership.
The Importance of Leadership Accountability
Elizabeth Reim led the conversation about one of the critical characteristics of effective leadership: accountability. She lightened the mood with a story about "Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody," illustrating how the absence of accountability can lead to failure in teamwork. The story, though humorous, hit close to home for many who’ve experienced similar situations in their careers. Elizabeth emphasized that lack of training, mentorship, and poor leadership examples often contribute to employees falling short of expectations.
Lorraine Brown built on this, pointing out that many leaders struggle with relinquishing control. She offered three thought-provoking questions for leaders to reflect on:
- Do we trust our team members enough?
- Are we overwhelmed by extra duties that make us overly controlling?
- Are we keeping ineffective leaders in place due to the effort required to replace them?
Her insights were followed by a compelling statistic: although 83% of businesses agree that leadership development is important, only 5% actually have programs in place to nurture their leaders. This gap highlights the immense need for structured leadership development in today’s organizations.
The Leadership Academy Success Formula
The Leadership Academy’s Success Formula offers a structured approach to developing great leaders. Elizabeth outlined the six critical steps that make this program a game-changer:
- Learning to Connect with People: Building authentic relationships and understanding others is at the heart of great leadership.
- Understanding Vision and Goals: Leaders must grasp both their personal goals and how they align with the organization’s mission.
- Developing Leadership Skills: Differentiating between management and leadership is crucial for developing a leadership mindset.
- Team-Building Projects: Participants engage in group projects to learn collaboration and leadership in action.
- Candid Coaching: Learning to provide constructive feedback—what the Academy calls “carefrontations.”
- Project Report-Outs: The final step involves participants presenting their team projects, showcasing their growth and insights.
Through this carefully crafted program, the Academy helps disrupt old, ineffective leadership dynamics and fosters a culture of accountability, connection, and growth.
The Power of Human Connection
Perhaps the most impactful takeaway from the Leadership Academy was the emphasis on human connection. Mike Allen shared his personal experiment, where he applied the Academy’s principles of genuine human connection with a difficult co-worker. By intentionally listening, valuing, and engaging with his colleague, Mike saw a dramatic transformation. The once argumentative co-worker had one of the best weeks of his career, all because he felt heard and appreciated.
Mike’s story underscored the Academy’s core message: people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and valued. This approach not only improved his workplace relationship but also highlighted the broader applications of these leadership principles in families, friendships, and marriages.
Final Thoughts: Leadership is a Lifelong Journey
The Leadership Academy isn’t just about developing better leaders for the workplace—it’s about creating better people. Through accountability, connection, and continuous development, this program equips leaders with the tools to succeed in any environment.
As the three coaches shared their experiences, one message stood out: leadership development is essential, and the time to invest in it is now. If organizations want to retain talent, foster innovation, and create positive work cultures, leadership training must be a priority. The Leadership Academy is a powerful step toward achieving that goal.
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Watch a Short Clip:
Lorraine Brown shares the powerful statistics about the gap in leadership development—83% of businesses agree it’s important, but only 5% have programs in place. Watch this informative clip here.
Thank you for your comment. It is completely understandable to be skeptical of statistics without the reference. The statistics provided were cited from the reference as listed below.
https://www.strategypeopleculture.com/blog/true-cost-employee-turnover/
The statistic mentioned—83% of businesses recognize the importance of leadership development, yet only 5% have programs in place—illustrates a significant gap between belief and practice. This trend is supported by studies from reputable organizations like the Harvard Business Review and Deloitte, which indicate that many organizations struggle to implement effective leadership development programs due to challenges such as resource constraints.
For further insights, here are two links that support this statistic: Apollo Technical https://www.apollotechnical.com/leadership-statistics/ and ClearCompany. https://blog.clearcompany.com/27-surprising-employee-development-statistics-you-dont-know
Awareness of these variations enhances our understanding and underscores the importance of a well-rounded perspective.
Ultimately, the Leadership Academy aims to create not just better leaders but better individuals, reinforcing that investing in leadership development is crucial for retaining talent and fostering positive work cultures.