Leadership Course

An Oracle White Paper
June 2012

Seven Steps for Effective Leadership
Development

Seven Steps for Effective Leadership Development

Introduction ....................................................................................... 1
Leadership Challenges in Business ................................................... 3
Elements of Leadership Development Programs ............................... 5
1. Determine the Best Leadership Style for Your Organization ...... 7
2. Identify Current and Potential Leaders Within the Company ...... 7
3. Identify Leadership Gaps ......................................................... 11
4. Develop Succession Plans for Critical Roles ........................... 12
5. Develop Career Planning Goals for Potential Leaders ............. 14
6. Develop a Skills Roadmap for Future Leaders ......................... 15
7. Develop Retention Programs for Current and Future Leaders . 18
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 19

Seven Steps for Effective Leadership Development

Introduction
The importance of business leadership is well articulated by this observation: A good leader can make a success of a weak business plan, but a poor leader can ruin even the best plan.
That’s why developing effective leadership by using a consistent talent management program at all levels across the organization can return significant business value. To identify, attract, fill, and retain corporate leadership talent, companies need leadership development programs focused on hiring strategies, employee development, and career and succession planning.
Currently companies are not well prepared to fill vacancies in their leadership roles. A 2008 study found that only 36 percent of the surveyed companies felt prepared to immediately fill leadership positions, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Companies are not prepared to fill leadership roles.

The impending