Strength Based Approach to Leadership Skills Development: Role of Awareness; Alignment; Action

Abstract

Leadership Skills Development in Business Organizations is a Critical Talent Management Practice. The Leadership Skills Development Initiatives across Business Organizations focus on Self Awareness training, Action Learning, Coaching, and Contextualization as critical success factors for developing Leadership Skills. However, whether to focus on strengths of individual leader/participant or to focus on removing weaknesses/ to focus on individual areas of development remains a key issue which affects the design and deliverables of Leadership Skills Development Initiatives.

The study presents qualitative analysis of a Leadership Skills Development Initiative which used Strength Based Approach for 50 senior executives from a large scale Public Sector Organization. The analysis of Leadership Coaching, Action Learning within Business Context used during the Initiative indicates role of Awareness; Alignment; Action as key input variables impacting the outcomes of the Initiative.

The paper also presents a framework for Strength based Approach to Leadership Development and Training Practices for creating Awareness, Alignment, and Action among participants of Leadership Skills Development Initiatives.