Leadership Development for All Employees

Sources of Learning Leadership

People develop leadership skills through experiences, interacting with others, as well as through formal learning. Some studies place experience as high as 70% of how a leader learns (Lombardo & Eichinger, 1996; Casebow & Ferguson, 2010).

Developing Your Leadership Skills

Below are some suggestions for developing your leadership. Use Western's development plan template to create your plan.

1. Review Western's Leadership Competencies and identify areas where you have strength, and areas where you wish to grow.

2. Ask colleagues, mentors, and formal leaders for feedback, guidance and suggestions about your career development.

3. Identify how you can gain leadership expertise. People learn to be a leader primarily through experiences, working with others, and formal learning:

Experience

Seek out opportunities to lead or co-lead work groups, teams, committees, or projects within Western or with an external association or volunteer group. These can provide great learning and insight about working with others, leading change, and whether you like this type of work.

Social

Observe those you work with and learn from them. Talk to them about their leadership work and what they have learned.

Formal

Seek formal leadership learning opportunities.

  • Consider topics that provide insight about working with others such as emotional intelligence, communication skills, conflict, and leading teams. Topics such as project leadership, and leading change and innovation are also helpful.
  • Review books, articles, videos, or other on-line resources on leadership topics.
  • Investigate what professional allowances or Western Educational Assistance funding is available to you.
  • Consider taking one or more courses in the Western Certificate in Management (CIM) program for Western employees, enrolling in the Ivey Leadership Program or other Western Continuing Studies workshop.

Western Continuing Studies

Build confidence in developing shared goals and empowering others. Leadership development courses and certificates from Western Continuing Studies will give you the tools to become a strategic thinker, motivator, team member, mentor and visionary. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your own approaches to leadership and understand the key role that developing and communicating vision plays in motivating others.

 See the program pages for more information including dates, fees, and discounts.

Please note Western Alumni are eligible for a 15% Discount and some employees may be eligible to submit this expense through Western’s Educational Assistance.

Ivey Emerging Leaders Program

The Ivey Emerging Leaders Program is designed for early-career leaders to build a strong foundation of people management skills and self-awareness. Participants are often preparing for a future leadership role or may already oversee small teams of direct reports.

See the program page for more information including dates, fees, and discounts.

Please note Current Western University employees are eligible for a 40% discount and some employees may be eligible to submit this expense through Western’s Educational Assistance.

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