Building a leadership talent pool at a business services multinational

After organic growth and acquisitions had expanded the reach of this global company and led it to diversify its offering, the senior management team recognized that they needed to identify and develop a talent pool of individuals who could take the business forward in the future. They began looking for a partner who could create a leadership development program that would not only engage and retain their top talent but would also add value to the business.

The senior team chose us because of our international presence and our expertise in designing large-scale learning interventions that produce strategic change. They then nominated 20 multinational managers for the first cohort of the program.

We began by identifying the competencies required by future leaders in the company. We then worked with the senior team to clarify the key issues that the business was facing and we prioritised the competencies which would make the greatest contribution to accomplishing the business goals. We then designed a ‘leadership journey’ that would bridge any competency gaps and develop the participants through five distinct leadership actions: imagine, plan, engage, enable and achieve results.

The resultant seven-month program included 360-degree feedback, one-to-one coaching and skills development to help the participants increase their self awareness, influence, impact and effectiveness. The face-to-face elements covered issues such as engaging staff, delegation, giving feedback, coaching others and achieving high performance. The participants also worked together in action learning projects that were proposed by the senior team and which addressed real business issues and challenges.

The competency-led development emphasized and reinforced the core values of the company. It gave the participants the skills and insights needed to lead others. As such, it helped them to make the transition from being an excellent manager to becoming an excellent leader. It also enhanced their business acumen and it directly led to strategically-important projects being implemented in the business. 

As a result of the program, nearly half of the participants have already been promoted into a more senior leadership role.