Leadership Development

Leadership development refers to the activities involved in enhancing one's ability to establish vision and goals, and motivate and guide others to achieve the vision and goals. Leadership development is critical at almost any level in the organization - not just the executive level. Leadership development was "an intentional effort to provide leaders and emerging leaders with opportunities to learn, grow and change". Its purpose is "to produce individuals over time with the skills to function effectively within the organization". An effective leadership development program has three objectives. One is to define leadership development within the unique context of the organization and its culture and mission. The second objective is to identify the organization's leadership development needs and match the solution to the need. Finally, an effective program of leadership development helps individuals learn about themselves and others, grow in their personal skills and abilities, and change and adapt to new circumstances and opportunities.

Leadership development is the strategic investment in, and utilization of the human capital within the organization. Leadership development focuses on the development of leadership as a process. This will include the interpersonal relationships, social influence process, and the team dynamics between the leader and his/her team at the dyad level, the contextual factors surrounding the team such as the perception of the organizational climate and the social network linkages between the team and other groups in the organization. Leadership development can build on the development of individuals (including followers) to become leaders. In addition, it also needs to focus on the interpersonal linkages between the individuals in the team.

In the belief that the most important resource that an organization possesses is the people that comprise the organization, some organizations address the development of these resources (even including the leadership).Leadership development can encompass any number of developmental processes including Talent identification and management, Individual development planning, management development, 360-degree feedback, succession planning, mentoring, coaching and Leadership.