Develop Real-Time Leadership During Crises

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Time is scarce, and focus is difficult. Crisis conditions demand new approaches to leadership development. Leaders must accelerate and incorporate into disrupted work routines opportunities to build new capabilities.

Time is scarce, and focus is difficult. Crisis conditions demand new approaches to leadership development. Leaders must accelerate and incorporate into disrupted work routines opportunities to build new capabilities.

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We call that real-time leadership development. By seizing this opportunity for real-time leadership development, you can enhance decision making, build trust, and accelerate adoption of new behaviors and ways of thinking.

We call that real-time leadership development. By seizing this opportunity for real-time leadership development, you can enhance decision making, build trust, and accelerate adoption of new behaviors and ways of thinking.

Development defined

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Real-time leadership development consists of quick, powerful experiences that you create by accelerating learning and performance during crises. The goals remain the same as traditional leadership development: Build new behaviors, develop a deeper understanding of the business, and enhance strategic execution capabilities.

Real-time leadership development consists of quick, powerful experiences that you create by accelerating learning and performance during crises. The goals remain the same as traditional leadership development: Build new behaviors, develop a deeper understanding of the business, and enhance strategic execution capabilities.

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Although the learning processes—growth need, action, feedback, and reflection—in real-time leadership are fundamentally the same whether or not a crisis is happening, in crisis conditions the process is more dynamic, situationally focused, and leverages an individual’s learning capability to capitalize on inherent developmental opportunities.

Although the learning processes—growth need, action, feedback, and reflection—in real-time leadership are fundamentally the same whether or not a crisis is happening, in crisis conditions the process is more dynamic, situationally focused, and leverages an individual’s learning capability to capitalize on inherent developmental opportunities. 

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To transition from traditional to real-time leadership development, focus on three objectives:

To transition from traditional to real-time leadership development, focus on three objectives: 

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  Acquire core competencies and behaviors through available experiences.

  Acquire core competencies and behaviors through available experiences.

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  Ensure attitudes and perspectives are aligned with business culture, immediate needs, and strategic intentions.

  Ensure attitudes and perspectives are aligned with business culture, immediate needs, and strategic intentions.

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  Maximize opportunities for immediate feedback, self-reflection, and learning support.

  Maximize opportunities for immediate feedback, self-reflection, and learning support.

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Then use these five steps to establish real-time leadership development.

Then use these five steps to establish real-time leadership development.  

Shift from leadership to learnership

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The best leaders have a growth mindset, and they are excellent learners. They are confident and willing to undertake new learning opportunities, are able to maximize resources to enhance their learning, and persist until they acquire the knowledge or solve the problem.

The best leaders have a growth mindset, and they are excellent learners. They are confident and willing to undertake new learning opportunities, are able to maximize resources to enhance their learning, and persist until they acquire the knowledge or solve the problem.

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Those capacities are especially important during crisis conditions—the best leaders will use their learning savvy and confidence to execute under pressure and learn as they go. Real-time leadership helps emerging leaders develop.

Those capacities are especially important during crisis conditions—the best leaders will use their learning savvy and confidence to execute under pressure and learn as they go. Real-time leadership helps emerging leaders develop.

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Instead of traditional leadership programs, think experiences. Combine the power of everyday experiences and real-time learning tools to help emerging leaders gain new capabilities, capture fresh insights about themselves, solve business challenges, and quickly determine the viability of their decisions.

Instead of traditional leadership programs, think experiences. Combine the power of everyday experiences and real-time learning tools to help emerging leaders gain new capabilities, capture fresh insights about themselves, solve business challenges, and quickly determine the viability of their decisions.

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During a crisis, countless experiences can provide rich learning opportunities, such as prioritization activities, novel problem solving, urgent decision making, daily communication, and trust building, to name a few.

During a crisis, countless experiences can provide rich learning opportunities, such as prioritization activities, novel problem solving, urgent decision making, daily communication, and trust building, to name a few.

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Additionally, to reinforce learning from experiences while focusing on the crisis at hand, real-time leadership relies on the supervisor’s strong involvement and a learning coach’s expertise. Although it is possible for the supervisor to also be the learning coach, we recommend a separate learning coach to ensure essential focus on both the crisis and associated learning. Together, they provide support, expertise, and focus so the learning opportunity is not lost on the intensity of the crisis.

Additionally, to reinforce learning from experiences while focusing on the crisis at hand, real-time leadership relies on the supervisor’s strong involvement and a learning coach’s expertise. Although it is possible for the supervisor to also be the learning coach, we recommend a separate learning coach to ensure essential focus on both the crisis and associated learning. Together, they provide support, expertise, and focus so the learning opportunity is not lost on the intensity of the crisis.

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You can maximize the outcomes of these crisis-related learning experiences in four steps. First, have the emerging leader conduct a brief self-assessment to define their growth and interest areas.

You can maximize the outcomes of these crisis-related learning experiences in four steps. First, have the emerging leader conduct a brief self-assessment to define their growth and interest areas.

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The assessment should include questions such as: What are my strengths? Where do I need support? What does the situation require? What can I leverage from my background and experience to quickly address immediate business needs?

The assessment should include questions such as: What are my strengths? Where do I need support? What does the situation require? What can I leverage from my background and experience to quickly address immediate business needs?

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The answers then become the learning plan. Because time is critical, a verbal agreement on the plan between the emerging leader and supervisor is sufficient.

The answers then become the learning plan. Because time is critical, a verbal agreement on the plan between the emerging leader and supervisor is sufficient.

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However, they should document the agreement to ensure discipline and accountability. A learning coach is invaluable to the emerging leader and supervisor in identifying critical experiences and aligning them with the company’s future strategy.

However, they should document the agreement to ensure discipline and accountability. A learning coach is invaluable to the emerging leader and supervisor in identifying critical experiences and aligning them with the company’s future strategy.

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Second, incorporate time for the emerging leader to process the experiences regularly. Best done daily, that time will capture new learning and avoid the individual simply moving on to the next crisis activity.

Second, incorporate time for the emerging leader to process the experiences regularly. Best done daily, that time will capture new learning and avoid the individual simply moving on to the next crisis activity.

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The best learning opportunities include activities that entail both self-reflection and engaging with others. Experiences that foster new ways of thinking and stretch participants’ creativity are crucial, as are opportunities to define problems using rapid-cycle tests of concept to determine ideal solutions and make real-time modifications.

The best learning opportunities include activities that entail both self-reflection and engaging with others. Experiences that foster new ways of thinking and stretch participants’ creativity are crucial, as are opportunities to define problems using rapid-cycle tests of concept to determine ideal solutions and make real-time modifications. 

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Third, ongoing interaction with others is essential for maximum learning. The learning coach enhances interactions by helping supervisors develop learning facilitation capability, reviewing developmental outcomes, and providing coaching to both the supervisor and emerging leader.

Third, ongoing interaction with others is essential for maximum learning. The learning coach enhances interactions by helping supervisors develop learning facilitation capability, reviewing developmental outcomes, and providing coaching to both the supervisor and emerging leader.

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The coach should also bring supervisors together for brief virtual sessions to share lessons learned and provide support. This establishes a crisis response sounding board that supports exponentially more learning opportunities.

The coach should also bring supervisors together for brief virtual sessions to share lessons learned and provide support. This establishes a crisis response sounding board that supports exponentially more learning opportunities.

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Finally, because the stakes are high, crises are not times to focus on an individual’s weaknesses. Rather, it is important that they receive guidance to leverage their peers’ knowledge and experience at every opportunity. During crises, almost every interaction can be an opportunity for emerging leaders to develop new knowledge, understanding, and insights. Regular peer group dialogues to solve business challenges are invaluable.

Finally, because the stakes are high, crises are not times to focus on an individual’s weaknesses. Rather, it is important that they receive guidance to leverage their peers’ knowledge and experience at every opportunity. During crises, almost every interaction can be an opportunity for emerging leaders to develop new knowledge, understanding, and insights. Regular peer group dialogues to solve business challenges are invaluable.

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The dialogues may occur naturally during crisis response updates and post-crisis response debriefs, but it’s important that emerging leaders experience firsthand and understand the rationale for decisions. So long as group conversations happen—even quickly and in the moment—real-time learning will occur.

The dialogues may occur naturally during crisis response updates and post-crisis response debriefs, but it’s important that emerging leaders experience firsthand and understand the rationale for decisions. So long as group conversations happen—even quickly and in the moment—real-time learning will occur.

Identify and document business and learning outcomes

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Assessing the impact of learning is especially important in real-time leadership. Participants should meet with their supervisors regularly to learn about corporate challenges that may require additional emphasis or a quick pivot of focus.

Assessing the impact of learning is especially important in real-time leadership. Participants should meet with their supervisors regularly to learn about corporate challenges that may require additional emphasis or a quick pivot of focus.

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The learning coach is a vital resource in this process and should engage with emerging leaders regularly—ideally weekly, even if for just a few minutes. These questions enhance mindfulness and build capabilities by providing immediate feedback, reflection, and insights:

The learning coach is a vital resource in this process and should engage with emerging leaders regularly—ideally weekly, even if for just a few minutes. These questions enhance mindfulness and build capabilities by providing immediate feedback, reflection, and insights:

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  What challenges did you encounter?

  What challenges did you encounter?

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  What worked, and what did not?

  What worked, and what did not?

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  What did you learn?

  What did you learn?

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  What can we do differently for better results?

  What can we do differently for better results? 

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It is also important that you obtain feedback regarding the effectiveness of the experiences. Focus on how participants describe their growth and lessons learned as well as note emerging topics and areas of opportunity.

It is also important that you obtain feedback regarding the effectiveness of the experiences. Focus on how participants describe their growth and lessons learned as well as note emerging topics and areas of opportunity.

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The feedback creates the base for upcoming experiences. It also helps C-suite executives understand in real time how leaders are experiencing the crisis.

The feedback creates the base for upcoming experiences. It also helps C-suite executives understand in real time how leaders are experiencing the crisis.

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Additionally, regularly assess whether the experiences are benefiting the company. Ask questions such as:

Additionally, regularly assess whether the experiences are benefiting the company. Ask questions such as: 

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  Regarding the crisis issue at hand, are we making the appropriate progress?

  Regarding the crisis issue at hand, are we making the appropriate progress?

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  From a leadership development perspective, is learning taking place? (Note: If an individual is operating in a high-action and low-feedback or low-reflection environment, effective learning likely will not take place.)

  From a leadership development perspective, is learning taking place? (Note: If an individual is operating in a high-action and low-feedback or low-reflection environment, effective learning likely will not take place.)

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  Is the learning relevant and value-added? Both the supervisor and emerging leader should answer this question.

  Is the learning relevant and value-added? Both the supervisor and emerging leader should answer this question.

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  Is the learning aligned with the company’s goals for future success? What evidence demonstrates that this is occurring?

  Is the learning aligned with the company’s goals for future success? What evidence demonstrates that this is occurring?

Address company and individual needs

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Unless managed well, leadership development during a crisis will focus only on immediate challenges and reinforce reactive behavior that limits learning and growth. To sustain leaders into the future, real-time leadership requires a strategic perspective.

Unless managed well, leadership development during a crisis will focus only on immediate challenges and reinforce reactive behavior that limits learning and growth. To sustain leaders into the future, real-time leadership requires a strategic perspective.

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Leadership development must consider the company’s culture and agreed-upon essential leadership skills. To ensure individuals are future-focused and learning from the immediate crisis, take time to affirm emerging leaders’ key competencies and desired characteristics.

Leadership development must consider the company’s culture and agreed-upon essential leadership skills. To ensure individuals are future-focused and learning from the immediate crisis, take time to affirm emerging leaders’ key competencies and desired characteristics. 

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And to ensure emerging leaders look beyond their own departments, cross-functional engagement is important for both systemic business solutions and leadership development. Time with executives—such as one-on-one meetings, small-group meetings, or even opportunities to attend and participate in executive team meetings—may help new leaders prioritize issues, solve problems, make decisions, reinforce company culture, and develop their systems thinking.

And to ensure emerging leaders look beyond their own departments, cross-functional engagement is important for both systemic business solutions and leadership development. Time with executives—such as one-on-one meetings, small-group meetings, or even opportunities to attend and participate in executive team meetings—may help new leaders prioritize issues, solve problems, make decisions, reinforce company culture, and develop their systems thinking.

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Those opportunities will help them learn, develop, and contribute. They are ideal situations to reinforce business goals and reaffirm the emerging leaders’ contributions and value to the organization, which are important motivators during tough times.

Those opportunities will help them learn, develop, and contribute. They are ideal situations to reinforce business goals and reaffirm the emerging leaders’ contributions and value to the organization, which are important motivators during tough times.

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Other real-time experiences include cross-departmental assignments, departmental committees, and high-impact assignments. Yet, rather than simply doing, it’s important to ensure learning is occurring.

Other real-time experiences include cross-departmental assignments, departmental committees, and high-impact assignments. Yet, rather than simply doing, it’s important to ensure learning is occurring.

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Providing coaching and support to executives as they set expectations, define roles, and mentor emerging leaders increases value to each individual and the company overall. It also ensures the mentoring doesn’t get lost in the intensity of the crisis.

Providing coaching and support to executives as they set expectations, define roles, and mentor emerging leaders increases value to each individual and the company overall. It also ensures the mentoring doesn’t get lost in the intensity of the crisis.

Ask questions to seek clarity and increase learning

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Knowing how to create conditions that build engagement and stimulate learning is essential for leaders but often defaults to directive leadership during crises. Emerging leaders must learn how to capitalize on others’ experiences to identify novel solutions and empower team members to act. It is a fine balance between inquiry and courage of decision making, which requires practice and critical thinking.

Knowing how to create conditions that build engagement and stimulate learning is essential for leaders but often defaults to directive leadership during crises. Emerging leaders must learn how to capitalize on others’ experiences to identify novel solutions and empower team members to act. It is a fine balance between inquiry and courage of decision making, which requires practice and critical thinking.

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Clarity of language and intent during a crisis is a necessity. In real-time leadership, challenge learners to consider how their actions and language could affect outcomes, especially during stressful times. For example, their simple passing question may unintentionally drive people in a direction that takes up valuable time and resources with no clear outcome.

Clarity of language and intent during a crisis is a necessity. In real-time leadership, challenge learners to consider how their actions and language could affect outcomes, especially during stressful times. For example, their simple passing question may unintentionally drive people in a direction that takes up valuable time and resources with no clear outcome.

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Emerging leaders should use relevant questions as a learning tool. Distinguish between inquiry—where questions are posed using a neutral position—and advocacy, where dialogue exposes an opinion or assumption.

Emerging leaders should use relevant questions as a learning tool. Distinguish between inquiry—where questions are posed using a neutral position—and advocacy, where dialogue exposes an opinion or assumption.

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When using inquiry and advocacy, emerging leaders should understand the intention of the exchange and monitor their behaviors to achieve the best outcomes. In short: Leverage experience and curiosity for hypothesis, but avoid uninformed biases.

When using inquiry and advocacy, emerging leaders should understand the intention of the exchange and monitor their behaviors to achieve the best outcomes. In short: Leverage experience and curiosity for hypothesis, but avoid uninformed biases.

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Learning to define a problem begins with critical questions and requires breadth of perspective. Leaders must step away from the intensity of the moment and use critical thinking to surface unfounded conclusions that can be counterproductive during a crisis.

Learning to define a problem begins with critical questions and requires breadth of perspective. Leaders must step away from the intensity of the moment and use critical thinking to surface unfounded conclusions that can be counterproductive during a crisis.

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They should consider how their beliefs and assumptions may influence their assessment of the situation, asking questions such as:

They should consider how their beliefs and assumptions may influence their assessment of the situation, asking questions such as:

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  What have we faced similar to this in the past?

  What have we faced similar to this in the past?

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  What is different in this situation?

  What is different in this situation?

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  How do past experiences inform our options and possible actions?

  How do past experiences inform our options and possible actions?

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  How will our decisions contribute to achieving organizational goals?

  How will our decisions contribute to achieving organizational goals?

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Finally, knowing when and how to delegate decision making is essential and especially challenging during crises. Emerging leaders must balance the need for quick action while building decision capability in others.

Finally, knowing when and how to delegate decision making is essential and especially challenging during crises. Emerging leaders must balance the need for quick action while building decision capability in others.

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With real-time leadership development, learners build trust and key leadership skills in their teams by assessing factors such as stakeholder involvement and buy-in; negotiations and influence; communication; and decision urgency, importance, and quality.

With real-time leadership development, learners build trust and key leadership skills in their teams by assessing factors such as stakeholder involvement and buy-in; negotiations and influence; communication; and decision urgency, importance, and quality.

Leverage the power of community

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Building community is vital in real-time leadership development. The best learning communities provide a safe space to work through tough decisions. They remind leaders they are not alone, and they provide a space of relief from the constant pressure of leading and supporting others.

Building community is vital in real-time leadership development. The best learning communities provide a safe space to work through tough decisions. They remind leaders they are not alone, and they provide a space of relief from the constant pressure of leading and supporting others. 

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Communities stimulate thinking and acting differently. Members must be able to give and receive feedback, and it is essential that emerging leaders refine those skills.

Communities stimulate thinking and acting differently. Members must be able to give and receive feedback, and it is essential that emerging leaders refine those skills.

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To encourage them to take advantage of all that a community offers, pair each participant with a thought partner colleague and encourage regular interaction. That can vary throughout the crisis and be as simple as a reminder to check in with a certain colleague on a topic where they may have a strength or insight or to send a quick message soliciting input. That opens the opportunity for the emerging leader to try new ideas and discuss challenges.

To encourage them to take advantage of all that a community offers, pair each participant with a thought partner colleague and encourage regular interaction. That can vary throughout the crisis and be as simple as a reminder to check in with a certain colleague on a topic where they may have a strength or insight or to send a quick message soliciting input. That opens the opportunity for the emerging leader to try new ideas and discuss challenges. 

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Short (15–25 minutes) weekly or biweekly virtual community sessions that the learning coach coordinates and develops in partnership with the supervisors are effective. Focusing on a specific challenge or important topic provides a way for community members to learn from each other and sustain community support.

Short (15–25 minutes) weekly or biweekly virtual community sessions that the learning coach coordinates and develops in partnership with the supervisors are effective. Focusing on a specific challenge or important topic provides a way for community members to learn from each other and sustain community support. 

Launching your real-time leadership development  

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Competent and confident leaders are more essential than ever. Offering opportunities to develop leaders during high-stress times requires creating experiences that align leaders’ learning needs with the compelling requirements of sustaining a business under incredible pressure. Crises spotlight the needs for creative, rapid, and high-stakes decision making combined with unique customer and employee needs.

Competent and confident leaders are more essential than ever. Offering opportunities to develop leaders during high-stress times requires creating experiences that align leaders’ learning needs with the compelling requirements of sustaining a business under incredible pressure. Crises spotlight the needs for creative, rapid, and high-stakes decision making combined with unique customer and employee needs.

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The benefits of taking a real-time approach to leadership development are profound. It ensures every engaged leader learns. It also enables organizations to respond most effectively to a crisis by doing so quickly while benefiting from the unique learning opportunities presented.

The benefits of taking a real-time approach to leadership development are profound. It ensures every engaged leader learns. It also enables organizations to respond most effectively to a crisis by doing so quickly while benefiting from the unique learning opportunities presented.

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Real-time leadership development strengthens a culture of learning and performance, builds strategic capacity, reinforces a growth mindset, and prepares leaders for the future. Ultimately, it helps achieve better results for both short-term crisis response and long-term, sustainable personal and organizational growth.

Real-time leadership development strengthens a culture of learning and performance, builds strategic capacity, reinforces a growth mindset, and prepares leaders for the future. Ultimately, it helps achieve better results for both short-term crisis response and long-term, sustainable personal and organizational growth.  

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Read more from CTDO magazine : Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.

Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.