Leadership training and professional development (LTPD) programs are highly sought after initiatives to enhance team and organizational performance. Below we outline the what, the who, and the how of these programs and how our unique differentiators can level up the existing approach. 

The What

In leadership programs, individuals undergo programming designed to enhance their self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, influence, decision making, coaching, team development, strategic thinking, etc. For more insight into leadership training, find more at here and here. Also, check out our proud partners at Behavioral Essentials who help organizations hire better and grow leaders and teams. 

In professional development programs, individuals undergo similar, more competency based training around specific skill development, continuous learning and education, innovation and problem solving, networking, etc. For more insight into professional development and its benefits, see here and here.

In our StepBack Sessions, we have taken content from each field and, paring it down into bite-size conversation starters that prime engaging and impactful discussion for the entire team. Our content focuses broadly on leadership, team dynamics, culture, values, ecological systems, psychology, behavior, and high performance. 

The Who

At their core, LTPD programs focus on individuals. In most cases, individuals are elected by management, coaches, or a group to fill a particular “leadership” role. In PD programs, individuals are either selected or can self-select to acquire new certifications, new technical and soft skill development, and partake in various learning and collaboration opportunities. Each enrolled individual then has the opportunity to gain incredible knowledge, resources, community, insights, and skills to operate more effectively within their professional setting. These individuals also enhance their own “brand” (via new acronyms, resume bullet points, leadership qualities, etc), making them more valuable to their own organization and others. 

Leadership and Development for All

At EMI, we bring LTPD to the entire team. We recognize the importance and need for an individual approach, but also believe that leadership and development can be a team-wide principle. Like Amazon, Netflix, and Patagonia, we desire to build cultures of shared accountability and higher performance. Our StepBack Sessions are designed to encourage leadership and promote development from every individual, creating the space for all members to contribute.

The How

Many LTPD programs operate through traditional educational approaches, pulling individuals into hour-long or even day- to week-long intensive training. More recently, there has been an uptick in micro-learning (see more here. Organizations like Blue Ocean Brain have found a unique way to integrate professional development into microlearning modules. At their best, LTPD programs create better, more effective leaders and higher skilled individuals. 

Sustainably Integrated, Efficient, and Effective

One of our main goals at EMI was to build something sustainable, that any organization or team could easily integrate into their regular workflows and cadence. Thus, through our StepBack framework, you and your team can engage in StepBack Sessions at your own volition. We start by training an internal team member on how to lead sessions. Then, by providing them access to our digital platform and library of StepBack Sessions, they can download and deliver with their team. When StepBack Sessions are integrated into existing team meetings, at just 30-minutes a clip, organizations create a recurring opportunity for every individual to sustain culture and drive performance.