We'll get to leadership development when things slow down

I see it happen all the time...

An organization commits to developing its leaders. People sign up. They're excited.

Then a client needs something. A meeting gets scheduled. Something urgent comes up. And the leadership development gets bumped.

Or the conversation never gets that far.

"We're running too lean right now."

"There's just too much going on."

"Maybe next year."

And honestly, I get it. I've been on both sides of those conversations.

But here's something I've been thinking about.

What if the way we're thinking about leadership development is part of the problem?

We tend to picture something BIG. A program. A retreat. Several days away from work. And when we're already stretched thin, that feels impossible.

But what if meaningful leadership development doesn't have to look like that?

What if it happens in the conversations leaders are already having?

Learning to ask a question instead of jumping in to fix something. Turning a routine check-in into a conversation that builds ownership. Noticing when frustration is about to take over and choosing a different response.

These might seem like small things. But they can change the entire dance.

And here's the part I find especially interesting.

The very things keeping us from developing leaders may be the things better leadership could help us address.

Leaders don't have time to develop their people because they're too busy putting out fires. But when they don't develop their people, they remain the ones everyone depends on to put out the fires.

See the pattern?

I'm not suggesting we stop investing in dedicated development. Quite the opposite.

I'm suggesting we rethink what meaningful development looks like and how it fits into the work we're already doing.

Because waiting until things slow down?

I'm not sure that day is coming.

💜 Stacey

I'm curious: When you think about leadership development, what comes to mind? And could that picture be limiting what's possible?  Reply and let me know. (Yes, I answer myself!)