You’re not plugging into the matrix!

Last week, I told a CEO that his team would never build new leadership skills in a leadership training class.

He paused for a moment and looked surprised. After all, he was considering a significant investment in leadership development for his team. If a training class wasn't going to build new skills, what exactly was he paying for?

I went on to explain that training builds new knowledge and awareness. The most effective training also includes some experiential learning and practice.

However, new skill development actually happens after the training. Skills like giving performance feedback, fostering collaboration, and planning employee development cannot be gained through new knowledge and awareness alone. They require consistent practice over time.

This feels like an important distinction because leaders often walk into a workshop with the expectation that they are plugging into the Matrix and will come out knowing Kungfu.

You may recall the scene in The Matrix where Neo downloads martial arts training from the matrix and then wakes up and says, “I know Kung Fu.” Morpheus responds with two simple words: “Show me.” An epic sparring scene then unfolds, where Neo does in fact know how to fight using Kung Fu.

If we're honest, most of us want leadership development to work like the Matrix. Send people to a workshop, expose them to great content, and watch performance improve.

The day may come when leaders can plug into a program and come out fully equipped with the skills they need. But for now, they have to take what they learn in training and build a plan for developing those skills.

If you’re interested in improving the leadership skills across your team, set realistic expectations. The leadership training you sponsor will only get them so far. You will need to create structured follow-up to encourage those leaders to put the things they learn into practice. You will need to support them in building new habits over time.

It's not nearly as exciting as learning Kung Fu in mere seconds, but it's how great leaders are actually built.

Intrinsic offers leadership development programs that combine training, coaching, and structured follow up to support ongoing skill development. Reach out if you’re interested in learning more about this blended approach to leadership development.