Perfect Access Speer A Kaplan Professional Company Executive Leadership Research Published in Training Magazine A Look at Leadership

Perfect Access Speer ∙ A Kaplan Professional Company

“Executive Leadership Research”—Published in Training Magazine

A Look at Leadership


Exclusive research on the state of leadership across organizations was conducted by

the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), seeking to examine how people

understand leadership in their organizations.

Training Magazine, June 2003“Executive Leadership Research”


Nearly 10,000 training managers and executives representing all industries were invited

to participate in an online survey regarding the state of leadership in their organizations.



Among the biggest leadership challenges is aligning the workforce behind established business objectives.



According to research from Franklin Covey, Salt Lake City, few workers in corporate America

are connected with corporate goals.

Only 27% percent of US workers polled by this firm say that organizational goals are translated

to their specific work groups.



The research showed that 47% of the respondents surveyed

said that their organizations focus on getting organizational objectives

accomplished through groups or teams.



The ability to build and lead teams is becoming a more valued skill.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents reported that developing team capabilities

is among the established leadership training goals at their organizations

and an important leadership strategy.



Of this same survey, 80% of respondents said that leadership is becoming

more difficult to accomplish.



Here’s what respondents had to say:

“It appears that professionals coming through the ranks don’t understand the difference between managing processes and leading people.”

“Today’s professionals don’t understand that they have to get things done through the very people they are supposed to lead, and lead by example,

not just as a do-as-I-say mode.”



Here’s what respondents had to say:

“It’s getting harder to find senior level leadership who are team players and not solely focused on

“where will this get me?”

“We do not have leader-quality people who are willing to be equally competent followers

(supporters of the designated leaders).”


Management focuses on maintaining systems and processes

Leadership is about influencing people to follow


A Look At Leadership


“The true measure of leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.”

– John C. MaxwellAuthor of The 21 Irrefutable LAWS of LEADERSHIP

The best way to test whether a person can lead rather than just manage is to ask him to create positive change

Managers can maintain direction, but they can’t change it

To move people in a new direction, you need influence


A Look At Leadership


“You have achieved excellence as a leader when people

will follow you everywhere if only out of curiosity.”

– Colin Powell


It’s accepted business doctrine that corporate success

begins with effective leadership.

According to a report from Cutting Edge Information, an independent research company in Durham, NC,

companies that have emphasized leadership development have outperformed other companies by 15 times

over the past 60 years.



Our organizations need to take this seriously and make leadership development

a priority.


Documents

Perfect Access Speer A Kaplan Professional Company Executive Leadership Research Published in Training Magazine A Look at Leadership