Jared Sandberg, who writes "Cubicle Culture" for the Wall Street Journal, completed the Foundations of Leadership program offered by the Center for Creative Leadership, and he shared his experiences in two recent columns. His account highlights both the value and the potential shortcomings of short-term, intensive leadership training programs.
Sandberg was looking for a training program that would help him assess and improve his leadership skills. He made an effort to avoid the sorts of fluffy exercises that have become all too common in the training world and to find a more rigorous program grounded in workplace reality that would emphasize self-awareness. He ultimately chose CCL's program because it came recommended by several colleagues, although he notes that at $3,700 it was also the least expensive of the ones he considered.
The bottom line? Well, the formal program compelled Sandberg to do some rigorous data-gathering (through 360-degree feedback as well as self-assessments) that he wouldn't have undertaken on his own, and that data presumably made the process much more objective and meaningful.
But the downside of a short-term program (as opposed to a longer engagement with an executive coach) is that it provided a snapshot of Sandberg's capabilities and pointed him in the direction he needs to go, but it won't provide him with an ongoing incentive to actually move in that direction or with any indication of whether or not he's making progress over time.
This isn't a criticism of CCL--although Sandberg had mixed feelings about the feedback he received, he had high praise for the instructors and (most of) the exercises he participated in--and for some people, an intensive, short-term program is the only way they're going to commit the time to participate in any leadership training at all.
But it suggests that if you have the opportunity, working with a coach on a long-term, one-on-one basis is going to be more effective at getting you to follow through with any necessary changes and will keep you apprised of your progress (or lack thereof.)
tags: jared sandberg cubicle culture center for creative leadership ccl leadership executive coaching
