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Why Investing in Leadership Programs in India is a Smart Career Move

Effective leadership, in the meanwhile, has been an emerging requirement due to the rapidly changing industrial environment in India. This is one of the most important benefits offered by leadership programs in India for professionals desiring to boost their careers and, in turn, match the rising demands of organizational success in a competent manner. Therein lies the reason why it is a smart investment for a career, particularly in the Indian context.

1. Increased Leadership Competence

Some of the major reasons for investing in leadership programs in India are for developing your leadership skills and refining them. Some of the very critical skills included in the training are strategic thinking, effective communication, and how to effectively manage a team. In the context of India, where businesses are operating between traditional practices and modern-day challenges, the aforementioned skills can help one lead teams effectively and ensure organizational success.

2. Training Tailor-Made for the Indian Market

The leadership development programs in India are specifically designed to take into consideration challenges and opportunities within the Indian business environment. Such programs take into consideration cultural diversity, regional differences, and different ways of doing business locally; therefore, the training will be highly relevant. Knowing how to manage teams across states or align with regulations locally might just be the key to success in the diverse market called India.

3. Career Advancement Opportunities

India has some excellent investment opportunities in leadership programs, which have far better career prospects. With the growing emphasis on leadership within the Indian corporate sector, advanced skills and knowledge gained through such a program make one of more value to their organization. Given a competitive job market where managerial and leadership positions are in great demand, such programs could thus lead to promotion, new responsibilities, and simply career advancement.

4. Networking and Industry Connections

The networking opportunity in industry professionals, mentors, and peers that these programs promise is of utmost importance. In India, such personal networks often form the bedrock of career advancement. Consequently, the relationships being built with people during the leadership programs will yield new opportunities, partnerships, and insight from experienced leaders across sectors.

5. Affordable Solutions

While developing in-house training may be an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, leadership programs in India would indeed come much cheaper. The quality of training such programs ensure would be available at a fraction of the cost that it would take to develop and subsequently maintain such an in-house program. To Indian companies desiring value for money invested in training, collaboration with established leadership programs could be an inexpensive way of achieving such development objectives.

6. Scalability and Flexibility

The leadership development programs in India are scalable, meaning they will grow with your organization. Besides, whether you train just a few individuals or an entire department of people, the leadership development programs can be scaled up or down to meet your organization’s needs. With several programs now offering different delivery options, including online, in-person, or hybrid formats to suit different learning preferences and logistical requirements, remote work and digital learning have become increasingly popular.

7. Focus on Core Business Functions

The leadership programs in India can relieve one in concentrating more on the core business activities. In fact, it is these programs that take care of the training and development of employees, thereby allowing the management to concentrate on key strategic business initiatives. This focus on core functions helps in driving overall business growth and efficiency, crucial for navigating the dynamic Indian market.

8. Access to Latest Training Technologies

The Indian leadership programs are among the very few who have begun introducing these new training technologies comprising Virtual Reality, Gamification, and AI-driven learning modules. Besides technology, the use of such tools makes the programs engaging yet effective in the modern context, maintaining global trends and future-proofing participants in a technology-driven leadership environment.

9. Better Compliance and Risk Management

Industry regulations and standards form the backbone in India. Leadership development courses in India will make sure that your workforce is informed about the latest happenings in legislative requirements, modern practices, and inclusion opportunities for all. This would reduce the legal risk associated with non-compliance while enhancing overall safety in your organization and guide you through the regulatory complexities of India with ease.

10. Measurable Results and ROI

Finally, the leadership training programs in India have measurable results for weighing the effectiveness of the training. In this respect, leadership programs in India apply metrics and mechanisms to assess and come up with an understanding of how well the training contributes to the success of individuals and organizations. This informs them of the return on their investment and may guide future decisions on the training.

Conclusion

Investment in the leadership programs of India is thus a very strategic decision that comes with multiple dividends on career and organizational growth. From enhanced leadership competencies to customized training solutions, networking opportunities, and cost-effective solutions, these programs offer the required toolbox to maneuver businesses in India. With leadership programs in India, one gets into a position to assure long-term success, make valued impacts on organizations, and create better career advancement in today’s competitive environment.

Revolutionizing Employee Development

How a Management Development Program Can Accelerate Your Career Growth

The skill of good management is more critical now than it has ever been in this rapid pace-setting business world. The management development program is rather more than a course to the aspiring professional, but it is a journey that helps in leading teams and making strategic decisions to accomplish success. In the contemporary environment, when demand has increased notably, the management development program becomes quite instrumental in the career paths of potential managers. In this blog, we explore the role of a management development program and how such a course can be a catalyzer for your career growth.

The Growing Demand for Management Development Programs

In this competitive world, organizations want to make sure that qualified managers are available. Basically, a management development program caters to this growing demand by providing them with professional tools to manage projects and lead a team. More and more, organizations are starting to invest in management development programs so their leaders are better positioned to address new challenges presented within the context of today’s business environment. What suits the approach of a management development program is that it’s able to offer focused training relevant to the needs of an organization for the growth of the individual and the organization.

Customized Management Development Programs Towards the Needs of the Organization

One of the major reasons that a management development program sees such great success is because of the breadth of its applicability to many industries and organizational needs alike. Essentially, the design of the management development program is done in such a way that it identifies with the mission and demands of the company to which it is targeted so that the participants emerge as competent and confident leaders.

Customized Training Modules

Standard modules integrated into a management development program would include strategic planning, team management, and effective communication, amongst other areas that are uniquely challenging to the organization. Since they develop a professional with the skills to tackle different challenges head-on, they automatically become of great value to the companies they work for through the management development program.

Personal Learning Paths

The management development program has to be personalized in such a way that each participant’s learning experience should be tailor-made according to his or her respective strengths and deficiencies. In a management development program, individual learning paths will give concentrated attention and guidance to one’s skill set where improvement is to be made and fill any skill gaps. This kind of personalization makes the difference for a management development program and is an important tool in career development.

Practical Experience and Immediate Real-Life Application

A management development program bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The emphasis on real-life scenarios ensures participants apply immediately what they learn into their professional environments.

Case Studies and Simulations

A management development program contains case studies and simulations that are similar to the problems in business management. These practices allow the participants to apply their newly learned skills in a simulated environment and whet their problem-solving skills appropriately. By providing such realistic case scenarios, management development program participants can afford to deal with similar situations arising during their professional lives.

Role-Playing Exercises

Role-plays form an integral part of a management development program. It is through such role-plays that participants are able to go through various management roles that would enable them to develop different aspects of a leader. Individuals participating in the management development program will be able to improve their decision-making skills and empathy, which is essential for any manager through role-playing activities.

Measuring the Impact of a Management Development Program

Success for many management development programs is measured in terms of value added to participants and the organization. The evaluation system is important in determining if growth and development have been significantly enhanced.

Feedback and Assessments

Feedback and assessment during the process also become an integral part of any management development program. Furthermore, the reaction of participants during feedback plays an important role in refining future programs so they remain relevant and effective. Assessment conducted during a management development program serves to bring out how far participants have achieved the progress required. This indicates areas where they excelled and those that may need further attention.

Career Progress Monitoring

Some management development programs follow even after the training period by monitoring long-term career growth in participants. Such continuous follow-up would enable organizations to know whether the management development program has been effective in building their leadership capabilities and career growth. It will help the companies in assuring that the management development program goes on with its beneficial impact beyond the length of the program.

Conclusion

The management development program could be one of those epiphanic experiences that will dramatically fast-forward your career growth. With the special training and hands-on experience provided, it equips professionals with the necessary competencies in managing teams, making strategic decisions, and driving organizational success. The payback from an investment in a management development program comes not only in leadership capability but also in new career opportunities that emerge. The management development program opens the door to a successful and fulfilling career in today’s demanding and skilled world of management.

Leadership Programs
Top 10 Benefits of Partnering with Corporate Training Companies

The speed of business changes today necessitates competitiveness through relentless people development in terms of skills and competency. Partnering with corporate training companies brings a number of advantages to enable the organization to soar to new heights. The top 10 advantages are listed below where corporate training companies engage with your organization.

1. Customized Training Programs

One important advantage of working with corporate training companies is the possibility of getting adapted training programs. Such firms listen to and take up the specific needs of your enterprise to adapt the modules of training to an area that reflects some exact problem in your enterprise. Therefore, it makes the training highly relevant and immediately applicable.

2. Expertise and Industry Knowledge

Corporate training companies boast a great pool of know-how and industry understanding. They are also rich in experienced, qualified trainers, often professionals in their field. That means your employees will be assured the highest quality of training possible, enabling them to put whatever they learn into practical use in their field. It also guarantees that the training your employees get is relevant at present under current industry standards.

3. Improved Employee Performance

Investing in training through corporate training companies greatly improves the performance of your employees: a well-trained employee is surer of himself, more productive in the performance of tasks set before him, and better equipped to rise up to challenges. This will directly reflect in increased productivity and better results on your organization’s balance sheet.

4. Increased Employee Engagement

The continuous learning and development by corporate training companies will definitely enhance the motivation and commitment of your employees. For such employees, the probability of being retained within the organization is high, which means lower turnover rates and a rather loyal workforce.

5. Cost-Effective Solutions

While creating an in-house training program may be expensive and time-consuming, corporate training companies provide a very economical alternative. Outsourcing will provide your company with quality programs while avoiding the overhead needed to develop and maintain the programs in-house.

6. Scalability and Flexibility

With corporate training companies, scalable solutions can be offered to grow with your organization. Whether one needs to train a small team or a whole department, the corporate training company will scale its programs to suit your organization’s needs. Secondly, it gives way to flexibility in delivery – online, in-person, or hybrid – depending on learning preference.

7. Core Business Functions

To this end, an organization partnering with corporate training companies that will take care of employee training and development professionally will have more time to focus on its core business activities. The critical management time, therefore, can be freed for work on business strategy rather than the training issues.

8. Access to the Latest Training Technologies

Corporate training companies are usually the first ones to adopt any new training technologies. This is another reason partnering with them will be important, as by investing in state-of-the-art tools and platforms, they can construct an effective and engaging training experience. The latest cutting-edge technologies for which your organization will be supported include virtual reality, gamification, and AI-driven learning modules.

9. Better Compliance and Risk Management

Many industries require employees to update themselves with regulations and standards in general. Companies offering corporate training will make sure that your workforce is compliant with the latest industry requirements, reducing all possibilities of legal issues and enhancing overall safety within the organization.

10. Measurable Results and ROI

Last but not least, corporate training companies can provide quantifiable results to understand the contribution of training to an organization. They use metrics and assessments that show, in great detail, the effectiveness of the training programs. This fully provides insight into the ROI and aids informed decisions on training initiatives in the future.

Conclusion

The many advantages availed by partnering with corporate training companies create a wide variety of strategic options for your organization—from designed training programs to measurable results. Partnering with corporate training companies helps establish a competitive advantage that is an essential part of being in business today. By investing in professional training, you empower your employees to excel, which means the growth and prosperity of your organization.

Revolutionizing Employee Development

Revolutionizing Employee Development: How Corporate Training Companies Are Leading the Charge

Employee development is one of the key building blocks to drive growth and success in an organization. Corporate training proves to be a major enabler in unleashing the powers of individuals towards creating pathways for business outcomes. When employees succeed, the company does too. In this blog, we will find out how corporate training companies are embracing advanced technologies and strategies to drive organizational success.

The Evolution of Corporate Training

Until recently, corporate training was performed using some of the most traditional and obsolete methods, which didn’t fit the bill anymore as the nature of the workforce changed so rapidly. But then came corporate training firms, changing this scenario by introducing new technologies and methodologies to enhance productivity at workplaces. The newer breed of workforce absorbs this kind of learning and finds it quite appealing, thus making learning a more dynamic and effective process.

Leverage Technology for Better Learning

Training companies have a reputation for doing things differently, mainly by integrating technology in ways that make learning not only fun but productive. Ditching those retro methods means embracing digital tools that keep training fresh, relevant, and current with the demands of the workplace.

E-Learning Platforms

E-learning platforms revolutionized the training world by providing flexible and accessible learning opportunities. The employees may participate in training sessions whenever they find it convenient, and hence can balance professional development with other priorities. Corporate training companies ensure learning is accessible, effective, and adaptable to various needs.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

VR and AR are going to revolutionize training by simulating scenarios that are real. The company offering corporate training makes use of VR in developing case simulations in handling high-tech equipment in immersive learning. AR does just the same by overlaying useful digital information on the real world in real-time. The technologies provide a safe environment that is non-threatening and allows learners to pick up confidence in their competence. 

Personalized Learning Experiences

One of the significant paradigm shifts in corporate training has to do with moving toward personalized learning experiences. The traditional ways of training lacked this particular aspect of customization. However, modern corporate training does exceptionally well, considering state-of-the-art technologies down to artificial intelligence in customizing programs per the needs and specifications of an employee or the organization.

Data Analytics

Analytics of data would, therefore, help corporate training companies to identify gaps in skills and learning preferences. Further, performance data analysis enables them to create training programs which exactly meet unique organizational needs, hence effective and pointed learning experiences.

Artificial Intelligence

AI will play an important role in personalizing training content. AI-enabled platforms continuously readjust themselves based on the progress recorded by an employee and provide them with a more engaging learning space. In such a case, not only do the trainees tend to get more but also effective engagement, hence ensuring the training need within the entity is actually met.

Creating a Continuous Improvement Culture

Corporate training companies don’t just stop at single training but rather create the concept of continuous learning. This kind of approach realizes that employee development is a long-term process without which success cannot be achieved.

Microlearning

Microlearning involves breaking down content into small, digestible chunks so that employees do not experience information overload. Corporate training companies apply this methodology in their practice by providing short and concise lessons that can be fit into busy schedules, thus making the development of skills more accessible and convenient.

Feedback and Support Continuously

Coupled with timely feedback, ongoing support helps in ensuring that people actually learn something worthwhile. Corporate training firms ensure mechanisms are put in place through which frequent feedback is provided to employees, which helps them in honing their skills and applying them to situations at work.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Training

Most corporate training firms understand the importance of measuring training effectiveness. Today, most make use of advanced analytics and feedback mechanisms for measuring the effectiveness of any particular training. KPIs

KPIs can help corporate training companies track manifold aspects of effectiveness in training, such as increase in the performance of employees, rate of skill acquisitions, and return on investment. These metrics provide insight into the value of results produced from the training programs.

Feedback Mechanisms

Employee feedback about training is important in order to know whether such training works. Surveys, assessments, and focus groups may provide insight into what the experience was like and how it challenged or promoted workforce development. Corporate training firms use such feedback in constantly updating and revising their programs.

 

Conclusion

They are companies that lead the charge in changing professional development. Applying advanced technologies, creating personalized learning experiences, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement-the way employees learn and apply new skills changes. With business continuing to evolve, corporate training will be not only about shaping the future of employee development but also contributing significantly to organizational success and growth.

1200x800 Leadership Development

How Leadership Development in Mumbai Can Elevate Your Career Growth

In today’s fast-changing professional world, the urge to lead and excel has never been stronger. To the career-oriented professional, leadership development in Mumbai is a lot more than a title; rather, it’s an important skill set that equips individuals with influencing others, making the right decisions, and furthering careers. Thus, with the rise in demand for good leadership, professional development programs in Mumbai have become crucial for career-oriented individuals. This article pinpoints the significance of leadership courses that one can undertake within Mumbai, and how these courses can be used as a game-changing strategy in your career path.

Growing Importance of Leadership Programs in Mumbai

Advanced leadership development programs in Mumbai top the priority list for those companies that need leaders who will take charge of teams to drive the projects to completion. So far, a number of training programs in Mumbai have been developed that are capable of enabling professionals to stay ahead of their competitors. This is unique in mentorship and guidance, so every participant can feel worthwhile development.

Customized Management Development to Meet Organizational Needs

The leadership courses in Mumbai have taken up great momentum because these are the kinds of courses which can be manipulated to fit almost any industry. These courses are customized to meet the needs of certain organizational requirements so that the participants walk out as leaders after having finished their course.

Tailored Training Modules

The training programs in Mumbai are fully equipped with specialized modules designed for specific organizations. These are developed after a proper analysis of key areas like strategic thinking, leading teams, and communicating effectively, whereby participants are provided with the necessary skills to meet challenges head-on.

Personalized Learning Journeys

Personalized learning remains at the core of Mumbai’s leadership development. It aims to appraise strengths and areas of improvement relevant to each participant, thereby helping to derive necessary support for each one of them. An individualistic approach gives immense value to participants so that they can handle even the most complicated issues with more assurance.

Practical Experience and Real-World Application

The leadership development in Mumbai, therefore, bridges the gap from theoretical knowledge into implementation in real life. Much focus is placed on equipping participants with such skills that could easily be implemented in work environments.

Case Studies and Simulations

Participants engage in real-life case studies and simulations to understand the complexity of various situations. These exercises build problem-solving skills when working on tough challenges in their professional lives.

Role-Playing Exercises

Another important module of leadership training courses in Mumbai is role-playing. It puts the participants into various leadership roles, which eventually gives an all-round view and enhances the decision-making capabilities and empathetic abilities.

Measuring Outcomes of Leadership Development in Mumbai

Most organizations have measurement mechanisms to review the outcomes of any leadership development programs. In the absence of such measures, it would be difficult to gauge the growth of individuals or organizations.

Feedback and Assessments

Participant feedback is instrumental to future improvements of leadership programs. Continuous assessments show what participants are learning and whether the new skills have proved helpful.

Tracking of Career Progress

A few leadership development programs in Mumbai do not stop at immediate feedback but track the progress of the careers of participants in the long term. This kind of information reveals how leadership development translates into eventual career success and the success of leaders in the long term.

 

Conclusion

Leadership development in Mumbai, therefore, can serve as a strong catalyst in career transformation. With specifically designed training programs, professionals gain the much-needed critical leadership skills that will spur organizational success and personal growth. Investing in leadership training may open up newer opportunities and allow for fast-tracking in career progressions that will enable professionals to reach their full potential in an increasingly competitive job market.

Vulnerable leadership is a leadership style that emphasizes authenticity, openness, and the willingness to show vulnerability or human imperfection. It involves leaders being honest about their own limitations, fears, and mistakes, and creating an environment where team members feel safe doing the same. Vulnerable leadership is crucial in the post-pandemic world because it promotes mental well-being, fosters connection in remote work environments, helps teams adapt to change, builds trust, creates an inclusive culture, and enhances innovation. 

We recently caught up with Jacob Morgan on the sidelines of his upcoming book launch on Vulnerable Leadership. Jacob is a professionally trained futurist, keynote speaker, and the international best-selling author of 5 books which focus on Leadership, The Future of Work, and Employee Experience. His passion and mission is to create great leaders, engaged employees, and future-ready organizations. 

Jacob’s new book “Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization” on Vulnerable Leadership is expected to release on October 3, 2023. Pre-order your book here

Read the transcript of our interview with Jacob Morgan on his upcoming book below.

Jacob Morgan Tm

1. Can you provide an overview of your upcoming book on vulnerable leadership? What inspired you to write about this particular aspect of leadership?

I started out with one basic question: Is vulnerability the same for leaders as it is for everyone else? It turns out that it’s not. While vulnerability cripples some leaders, others tap into it and use it as a superpower. Vulnerability alone makes leaders seem incompetent. Competence on its own makes it hard for leaders to connect with their people. The key is to develop both competence and vulnerability, what I call “The Vulnerable Leader Equation.” I interviewed over 100 CEO interviews and surveyed nearly 14,000 employees to show how leaders can tap into vulnerability to transform themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

2. Vulnerability is often seen as a weakness in traditional leadership models. How does your book challenge this perception and highlight the strengths of vulnerable leadership?

Based on the 14,000 employees I surveyed with DDI, the #1 reason why we don’t see more leaders being vulnerable at work is because they don’t want to be perceived as being weak or incompetent. If all you do each day is show up to work talking about your challenges, struggles, emotions, and mistakes, then of course eventually people will start looking at you and wondering what you are doing in your role. The best thing to do is to combine vulnerability with leadership. For example, instead of just saying “I’m sorry I made a mistake” say, “I’m sorry I made a mistake, but here’s what I learned from my mistake and here’s what I’m going to do going forward to make sure that mistake doesn’t happen again in the future.” There’s vulnerability in that, but there is also leadership. The book offers frameworks, stories, research, and insight that will teach readers how to tap into vulnerability and leadership to be able to unlock the potential of those around them, lead through change, drive business performance, and create trust.

3. What key principles or qualities define vulnerable leadership, and how do they differ from more conventional leadership approaches?

Vulnerable leadership just comes down to two things, connection (vulnerability) and competence (leadership). These aren’t new concepts or ideas but most of the time we focus on one or the other. We’re either taught to show up to work and just be vulnerable or to show up to work and just focus on doing a good job. If you only focus on competence people will think you’re a robot, if you only focus on connection then people will think you’re incompetent. The key is that leaders must be able to do both. That combination is a simple and powerful combination that we never talk about in the business world.

4. Can you share some real-world examples or case studies from your book that illustrate the impact of vulnerable leadership on individuals, teams, and organizations?

On August 20, 1991 Hollis Harris, the then CEO of struggling Continental Airlines was asked to address his employees. In his memo he acknowledged that the company was struggling, that there was uncertainty, and that he didn’t see a clear way forward. He ended his memo by telling his 42,000 employees to pray for the future of the company. The next day he was fired. What Hollis did was vulnerable but there was no leadership.

Another such leader is Fleetwood Grobler, the President & CEO, Sasol Limited, a South African energy and chemical company with over 28,000 employees. When Fleetwood took over the company was $13 billion in depth and with the pandemic the entire company almost went out of business. Fleetwood was also asked to address his employees but his message was different. He also acknowledged challenges and struggles of the business but said he had a vision for what the company could become and that together, they would be able to rebuild trust amongst their employees and customers. He asked his employees to go with him on this journey to transform the company and told them that although they are struggling and that he didn’t know the exact way forward, that together they could figure out and achieve success. And that is exactly what they did.

5. What challenges do leaders typically face when attempting to embrace vulnerability, and how does your book offer guidance on overcoming these challenges?

As I mentioned above, the #1 reason for why we don’t see more of this is because we don’t want to be perceived as being weak or incompetent. The way to fix that is to add leadership to the vulnerability. This begins by leading by example. It takes courage and boldness to step forward and to show others how to do the same.

6. Your book likely discusses the potential risks or pitfalls of vulnerable leadership. Could you elaborate on some of these potential downsides and how leaders can navigate them effectively?

The big risk that people are worried about is that a vulnerability will be used against them in some way, and it will. In fact, I can guarantee that it will, but it won’t happen nearly as often as we think it will. This is just part of life, you will get told no for a date, you will get denied for a new job or a promotion, you will get turned down for all sorts of things in life and similarly you will have things used against you at some point. However, what you do when that happens makes all the difference. When vulnerability does get used against you you can either use that as an excuse for why you should never be vulnerable again, or you can use that as a learning moment to take a step back and examine what you learned about yourself, the situation, and the other person. So the best way to view these downsides and negative experiences is to view them as learning moments.

7. How do you envision the future of leadership evolving, considering the increasing emphasis on emotional intelligence, empathy, and vulnerability

I see all of these things becoming even more important especially as tools like generative AI continue to advance and play a more crucial role in how we live and work. The one thing that technology can’t take away from us (yet) is our ability to be human. The very best leaders are going to be the ones who focus on human skills.

8. Are there any specific tools, exercises, or techniques that your book suggests to help leaders develop and practice vulnerable leadership skills?

There are many of them. One of them is called the vulnerability mountain which is the idea of creating a basecamp and then a peak. At basecamp you identify something that you can do today or tomorrow when it comes to leading with vulnerability. This could be something simple like sharing a mistake you made and what you learned. At the top of the peak you identify what’s the scariest and most uncomfortable thing you can do. Then you take steps gradually between basecamp and the peak and you begin to climb the vulnerability mountain. It’s a tough journey but it’s one that every great leader needs to make. The higher you get up the mountain the more clarity you will get, the farther out you can see, and the more relationships you can build.

9. Were there any personal experiences or anecdotes that influenced your understanding of vulnerable leadership and its importance?

I had a series of panic attacks shortly after signing the contract to write this book. At the time I had no idea what was happening to me or why. After a few therapy sessions it became clear that the reason why I was having panic attacks is that I had committed to writing about vulnerability which at my core wasn’t something I believed in or practiced in my own life. I grew up emulating my dad who always taught me to not share feelings, to keep my problems to myself and to not talk about my challenges or failures. The fact that I was now confronted with exploring something so foreign to me made my body and mind shut down.

10. As readers engage with your book, what main takeaway or message do you hope they will carry with them into their leadership roles?

The biggest takeaway is don’t be vulnerable at work, instead lead with vulnerability! Bring together competence and connection. Doing so will allow you to transform yourself, your team, and your organization.

By Shradha Dhar

The recent breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have transformative potential to revolutionize end-to-end learning and development process. The answer is clear – AI is designed both as a disruptor and an enabler, and definitely not as a replacement. It is a game changer for the L&D industry because it can automate repetitive tasks, offer insights and recommendations, and enhance the experience of the learners.

I recently attended an insightful virtual session on Enhancing L&D with Generative AI: Pioneering the Future of Work, organized by People Matters in association with Coursera. The panelists were thought leaders from the industry who have both implemented AI in Learning at the workplace, and hold visionary ideas about its future impact.

If you are a L&D practitioner and like me, curious to explore how AI can be leveraged in learning, do check out the insights shared in the session. I had documented these for my personal learning –  extending here to the larger community for shared learning.

My Key Takeaways from the session

Segment 1: A Disruption or An Enabler: Is Generative AI a game changer?

The potential of Generative AI in the context of Learning and Development was discussed. Some of the key points highlighted by the speakers are as follows.

  1. Recent research by McKinsey estimates that Generative AI has the potential to generate $4.4 trillion global productivity over the next decades, which includes 3-5% surge in sales productivity
  2. There is huge potential of Generative AI in the learning & development industry, both as a disruptor and an enabler, but that completely depends on how the organizations bring it to life and make it accessible
  3. Disruption with AI has already happened with ChatGPT being used for self-learning
  4. Generative AI has also made skill building possible now, apart from the common knowledge building for which most digital platforms have been created
  5. There is a huge potential in AI being used for training need analysis, that requires gathering, reviewing and analysing large amounts of employee skill data, right from the shop floor to the top management, across industries

Segment 2: What are the use cases of Generative AI in Learning? How do you customize the learning using Generative AI?

Generative AI can be used in the following listed ways to support and enhance the learning experience.

  1. Chatbots are a big thing now in the space of learning, as it can simulate human-like dialogue. It can be used for answering immediate questions, giving feedback, doing assessment debriefs and can even provide personalized coaching.
  2. Gen AI can now help to personalize the learning content to the regional languages of the learners. It has made learning accessible to local employees, especially on the shop floor. Coursera has also been able to bridge the language barriers by translating their content to 9 languages, not just in terms of transcript but also in video-courses.
  3. Facial & Emotional recognition is another added feature that enhances online learning experience. It can be used for skill building by combining it with role plays in the context of learning. Facial recognition has also made proctoring easier when completing assessments.
  4. Adaptive recommendation systems using AI have helped to personalize the learning experience by recommending learning content and modules based on identified skill gaps, individual preferences and characteristics.
  5. Scalability and enablement of people who require re-skilling, especially those who are coming back after a career break.
  6. AI helps to curate and build high quality content reducing the time, effort and cost required for content development. Coursera is currently reducing their content development time with the use of AI. They are also able to use AI for content authoring wherein content creators can upload the required content, mix & match different other kinds of content from Coursera and design a customized learning path of a fixed duration.
  7. The Coursera Coach is another use case for Gen AI in learning. When learners get stuck or have questions on how to apply the concept or framework, the feature of the Coursera Coach can be availed. The Coach also helps to summarize the learning, suggest what to learn next, give examples, and answer other questions.
  8. Reducing screen fatigue and information overload are one of the other use cases of Gen AI in learning which needs further deliberation on application. AI can be used to enable the learners to find the right information (and not all the information) amidst the information overload. AI can make it easy for the learners to absorb and retain the information.
  9. Prompt engineering is the future which can help to find and ask the right questions to get the right answers. Example is ChatGPT which has been blown up for prompt engineering.

Segment 3: How can organizations chart a reskill and upskill policy using Gen AI?

The speakers discussed 3 insightful and creative ways in which Gen AI can support organizations with employee reskill and upskill, especially at high volumes.

  1. Use Gen AI to baseline and identify skill gaps – The skill gap on current versus ideal skill level, along with futuristic career goals of the individual can be identified and mapped to suggest a personalized learning path. A graded learning path can be designed based on this information. 
  2. Predictive Analysis for Speed – Since speed is important for any business, leveraging predictive analysis to fast-track upskilling programs and conducting mass customization of learning based on role and industry, is the expectation from Gen AI. With this, platforms can show where the person currently is versus where they should move in the career path, and then recommend powerful content. AI can help with the speed in which Learning & Development deliverables need to be made.
  3. Reskilling with adaptive learning – Let’s say 5 people have to learn a topic, but they are at different levels of knowledge and skill with respect to the topic. Gen AI can be used to adapt the topic and learning based on the individual needs of the 5 learners. This is a great way to support employee re-skilling by structuring the learning paths in Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels (or even Professional Paths like from Data Analyst to Data Scientist) and assigning learners to each path based on their level of knowledge and skill.

Concluding Comments by Speakers

  1. Gen AI & online learning will be responsible for transitioning people into new roles, and impact upskilling and reskilling of employees. It will also open the doors for assessing talent.
  2. The role of the senior leadership is critical – Are they demonstrating learning agility and adopting technology? Leaders have to start talking about it. They have to play the role of digital champions and also adopt technology. The Reverse Mentoring program helps senior leaders today to become comfortable and adapt to technology.
  3. Technology Quotient and Digital Mindset are important traits to have for every employee within an organization today. They need not be experts on technology, but basic understanding of what the various technologies mean, and having an open mindset to learn about it, is a critical sign of a healthy organization.
  4. Finally, we need to Democratize Learning by helping learners to learn what they need instead of mandating learning hours and topics for them.

Overall, the virtual session was extremely beneficial for me to push my thinking beyond the usual application of using Gen AI in learning. You can watch the full virtual session here.

In the wake of the unprecedented global pandemic, the traditional concept of work underwent a seismic transformation. As companies adapted swiftly to ensure business continuity, the remote work culture emerged as a lifeboat for many organizations. Surprisingly, this experiment with telecommuting not only proved to be successful but also reshaped the future of work. Today, a post-pandemic reality beckons, where the hybrid work model has taken center stage, offering employees the flexibility to divide their time between the office and home. However, to truly thrive in this new norm, it is essential to think differently about working in a hybrid world. In this article, we will explore 5 strategies and practices that can empower individuals and businesses alike to unlock the full potential of this transformative work environment. 

1. Build Connection and Trust with your People

To build connections within the team, consider implementing a buddy system, where members are paired up for daily 5-minute calls to catch up and support each other. Conducting weekly heart-to-heart video calls allows participants to freely discuss whatever is on their minds. Additionally, creating shared virtual lunchrooms provides a space for informal gatherings and conversations akin to break room interactions.

For teams with members who have never met in-person or those with introverted individuals, organizing weekly team meetings for getting to know each other can be beneficial. Each week, featuring a different team member who presents something about themselves helps strengthen bonds. Encourage both formal and informal presentations, allowing time for preparation and thought, particularly for introverts or neurodiverse team members. You can use templates or encourage creative presentations, such as slideshows, to suit the team’s preferences. By nurturing a culture of connection, your team can thrive even in a virtual environment.

2. Set goals frequently make the specific and measurable

In order to foster a strong sense of unity within your team, it’s essential to avoid any division between “us” and “them.” Face-to-face connections whenever possible are crucial, especially incorporating social interactions where practical. When dealing with a mix of virtual and in-office team members, it’s vital to ensure that everyone can participate in meetings and connects to prevent feelings of exclusion. the hybrid work environment, the traditional annual goal-setting approach with periodic reviews no longer suffices. With reduced supervision and connection, employees find it challenging to keep up with changing client and organizational objectives, tactics, and strategies. To ensure effectiveness, dynamic and measurable goals must be adjusted more frequently to stay aligned with organizational objectives.

Empowering employees with autonomy while setting clear boundaries, authority, and accountability is vital for their success. Defining what excellence, good, and not acceptable performance look like provides a clear roadmap for achievement. Breaking tasks into manageable chunks and agreeing on specific timelines for each segment ensures progress towards the overall goal.

Ensuring goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) adds clarity and precision, enabling employees to track their progress effectively. By adopting these strategies, organizations can adapt to the challenges of the hybrid environment and ensure their efforts remain relevant and impactful in achieving organizational objectives.

3. Make sure the goal is SMART – Aim for your team members to have no more than 2 meetings per day and make them count!

One of the most common complaints in the Hybrid Model, whether team members work 100% virtually, 100% in the office, or somewhere in between, is the overwhelming amount of time spent in meetings, leaving little time for actual work. To address this, creating a weekly or monthly meetings plan for each team member is crucial.

Start by identifying client meetings that are essential for team members to attend. Then, incorporate at least two personal connection type meetings each week to nurture relationships. With the remaining time slots, prioritize value-add or essential meetings for your employees.

To make meetings more effective and productive, send out agendas or relevant content in advance, allowing participants to prepare thoroughly. Set clear expectations for meeting duration and the level of contribution expected from team members. Keeping meetings on track by managing time and intervening when discussions go off-topic will help make every minute count. By implementing a well-structured meetings plan and optimizing meeting practices, teams can strike a balance between collaboration and focused productivity in the Hybrid Model.

4. Make time to talk and listen to your people about their Hybrid situation

As the Hybrid model introduces uncertainty, many individuals are grappling with concerns about what it means for them. Engaging in open conversations and actively listening to your team members is essential to gaining insight into their unique situations and anxieties. Following Stephen Covey’s wisdom, “Seek first to understand then to be understood,” fosters empathy and connection.

It’s completely natural for people to experience anxiety, especially about returning to the office, even part-time, as it aligns with the way human brains are wired. Some team members seek clarity on what the future holds and the opportunity to express their perspectives. Others find solace in being heard, which can significantly reduce anxiety during the initial phase of transitioning back to the office.

Certain team members face more significant challenges, such as no longer living near an office, enduring lengthy commutes, or contemplating relocation. Meanwhile, those who will predominantly work from home require assurances about job security and their value to the team.

Involving team members in the development of a hybrid workplan, setting clear expectations for work from home (WFH) and work from office (WFO), and addressing logistical issues like network connectivity, travel, client expectations, and deliverables, ensures a comprehensive approach to the hybrid work environment. Ultimately, incorporating team members’ insights and providing support and assurance will foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the new model.

5. Model the desired behaviours

Creating a culture of trust and empowerment within your team starts with you as the leader. Transparency allows team members to own their mistakes and voice their concerns, knowing it’s a cultural norm. Show empathy by caring for their well-being and making practical accommodations, and they will dedicate their energy to achieving shared objectives.

Foster an environment of vulnerability, where team members feel safe revealing their true selves and driving behaviors without fear of repercussions. Lead by example to build this psychological safety. Demonstrate accountability by owning up to your own mistakes and failures, inspiring team members to do the same and garnering their respect.

Be an advocate for your team, championing their ideas and advocating for necessary tools and technology to support their success. Recognize exceptional work and address unsustainable policies that may lead to burnout. As a leader, embodying these values nurtures a positive team culture, driving performance and fostering a sense of belonging and commitment among team members.

In a data-informed world, organizations look at data as their North Star. When it comes to gender diversity, it’s no different.

We intuitively know that women leadership is crucial for an organization’s success. We know that women leaders bring on-board a different set of skills, perspectives and context to problem solving.

Yet, the question persists. Is there data to support this? Does women leadership actually translate into real business impact?

The answer is a Big Yes. Consider these facts:

And that’s because women have emerged as more effective leaders in today’s world. There is no dearth of research on how women score equal or higher in most leadership skills. Women have proved to be better leaders during crises, including in managing the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

So you may ask what’s the issue?

As you discovered in this article, we have troves of data on how women have proved to be more effective leaders and that their presence leads to real business impact.
Unfortunately, the one place we wish we had better data to share is women’s representation in the workforce especially in leadership positions.

  • Women represent 45% of the S&P 500 workforce, but only 4% are CEOs.
  • Globally, women hold just 24% of senior leadership positions
  • In a study of nearly 22,000 publicly traded organizations worldwide, 60% have no female board members.

Why is women's representation at work dismal?

A one size fits all approach does not work for women professionals as they find themselves confronted with some unique challenges at work.
In our conversations with women professionals, we hear them articulate so many of these challenges that are well-documented through research:

    1. Women leaders find themselves in a ‘double bind’ when gender stereotypes end up binding them in difficult situations
      a. They are seen as too soft (likeable, but incompetent) or too tough (competent, but unlikeable) but never just right
      b. The ‘think leader, think male’ mindset creates an invisible barrier for women where women leaders work twice as hard as men for the same recognition
    2.  “Senior-level women are also nearly twice as likely as women overall to be ‘Onlys’ -the only or one of the only women in the room at work. They are more likely than women who work with other women, to feel pressure to work more, and to experience microaggressions, including needing to provide additional evidence of their competence.”
    3. There are studies on how people and companies commonly misinterpret displays of confidence as a sign of competence, which tends to put men at a position of advantage as they come across as more confident
    4. COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified challenges that women already faced. Senior-level women are significantly more likely than men, at the same level, to feel burned out and under pressure to work more, and “as though they have to be ‘always on.’” They are 1.5 times more likely, than senior-level men, to think about downshifting their role, or leaving the workforce altogether due to the pandemic. Almost three in four cite burnout as the main reason.

What do we need to do to address this issue?

While we can’t change the world, we can certainly enable and empower women professionals to navigate through these realities with the courage, confidence and the right skill-sets. What’s needed is to enable women to discover their authentic voice and lead their life with balance, fulfillment and growth.

If the challenges facing women professionals are different, the solutions too need to be tailored to their specific needs.

Interested to know what these solutions can be? Read-on!

How Evolve is helping women professionals grow in their journeys?

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Non-customized leadership journeys rarely work because they don’t factor in the realities of women in the corporate world. The realities of the 21st century post-pandemic world have added further complexities to women professional journeys that require to be recognized and acted upon by organizations.

Based on these insights, we have been working with several global corporations through Evolve, our unique offering tailored to the needs of their women professionals across ranks and functions.

Evolve by TransforMe is a transformational development journey for women professionals, created to address these realities and unique challenges faced by them. Evolve catalyzes an internal journey that helps women professionals evolve and unleash their fullest potential by:

  1. Getting in touch with their authentic self
  2. Recognizing their internal barriers and
  3. Discovering skills to elevate their growth

For Diversity, By Diversity
This unique learning journey is designed by a team that breathes Diversity &Inclusion. It is led by world-class facilitators with decades of experience in D&I work.

Apart from deep expertise, it is the values that this team, led by women and men representing varied ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and unique cultural backgrounds, brings on-board that adds authenticity to the journey.

Rooted In Research, Leveraging Unique Methodologies
We leverage primary and secondary research to gain a deeper understanding of the real challenges faced by women professionals. The Evolve learning journey is designed using pattern-breaking transformational methodologies like T-group, Gestalt, Neuroscience, Projective cards and more.

Inspired by the work of thought leaders such as Brene Brown, Sheryl Sandberg among others, Evolve helps women professionals recognise and realise their potential.

Evolve Framework
Take a look at the Evolve framework optimised to create breakthrough experiences at every stage enabling women professionals to drive real change.

Here is what some of the women professionals who have been on this journey with us have shared about their experience.

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What are your goals when it comes to nurturing a gender-diverse team?
What are the challenges in the path of women professionals in your organization?

If you would like to learn more about creating a meaningful learning journey for your team of women professionals or if you simply want to chat about your experiences and challenges, write to us at connect@transformelearning.com.

Stay inspired, visit us on our website, join us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Listening is one of the most difficult skills on the planet,” says Nicole Lipkin, author of What Keeps Leaders Up At Night.

It’s very hard to stop your mind from wandering . You can always tell when someone’s not giving you their complete attention. Most of us in the workplace are so overwhelmed with things to do—instant messaging, phones ringing.

Listening can feel at times like a lost art, maybe because we are communicating so much more electronically. Being a good listener can help you in every aspect of your life – with family and friends, and with your colleagues at work.

Here are a few exercises that leaders should use to test their ability to suspend judgement and really hear what the other person is saying.

  1. Stop interrupting -This will be hard to do, but try not to finish the other person’s sentence. You often do this because you think you know what the other person is thinking, but this isn’t always true. In fact, it’s often not true. Our brains are wired to share what we want to hear and we will look for information that supports what we want to see and hear and ignore everything else.
  2. Listen for feelings – People do not always express their feelings or concerns directly, especially to their bosses. Pay attention to words that express feelings or needs and to nonverbal behaviors that may reflect how someone feels.
  3. Use Body Language – Body language is an important tool to ensure you do this. The correct body language makes you a better active listener and therefore more ‘open’ and receptive to what the speaker is saying. At the same time, it indicates that you are listening to them.
    Learning body language can feel odd, and it’s likely you’ll be doing some of these already without being aware of them. However, the more conscious you are of these four factors the easier active listening will be for you.
    –  Make sure you face the speaker
    –  Move closer to the speaker
    –  Incline your head towards the speaker
    –  Hold eye contact for longer
  4. Acknowledge what the person said. This is where you tell the person what you think after acknowledging the person’s contribution. Lipkin advises not to criticize what they say, but be genuinely honest about your opinions. This is how you build a relationship.
  5. Repeat what you heard back to the person. You should always paraphrase what you think the person said. Paraphrasing helps you check for accuracy and understanding.

You should also take note of the person’s tone of voice, because often people will say one thing that seems angry, but they’re actually not. Sometimes this is a cultural thing.
Active listening is an important social skill that has value in many social settings. Practise it often, and it will become your second nature.

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