The problem with big change and new floors

​Colleagues,
 
Today’s focus is on the most important of the four principles of strategic leadership: people.
 
Soon-to-be Dr. Maddie Jurek defends her dissertation today! Maddie asked (and answered) questions about meaningful training and development. She studied art teachers in public schools, but her findings are applicable to strategic leaders everywhere. 
 
Maddie found that high quality training should be:
 
Relevant and embedded in experience. The training itself should provide immediate value by connecting people with their peers and developing skills and knowledge that can be applied to their jobs. Training should also result in concrete plans or other tangible products that facilitate application of the new knowledge and skills.
 
Create a shift in mindset. Training can help people see their identity and their connection to their work in different ways. This happens primarily when people experience growth in knowledge and skills and are then able to use that growth to improve results in their jobs. This mindset shift may also help people reframe how they see the purpose of their work and their professional identities.
 
Enable growth-oriented beliefs. As a result of training, people should reexamine what success looks like in their work. Training should help elevate performance and expectations, not only for what the work can achieve, but also the purpose behind it.
 
Training that meets these criteria can be provided within the organization or by external trainers or consultants, professional associations, and public or provided educational organizations.
 
Finally, a critical element of the professional development that Maddie looked at was that it occurred within a community. The learners formed a network that was supportive both during and after the formal training. This network aspect of professional development was essential to success.
 
Congratulations Dr. Jurek!
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick