Patricia Finch

Summer 2012 - The Public Manager

Federal agencies may soon be facing an unprecedented need for internal leadership development. Training in succession planning and renewal can keep people in the organization and build commitment to the organization’s culture and values. As many Baby Boomer leaders become eligible for retirement, there is a need for new leaders to fill the gaps left by retirement. However, ongoing proposals from Congress to downsize the federal workforce may thwart agencies’ ability to hire new leaders from the outside. Additionally, a declining or stagnant federal budget may force cutbacks in external training and consulting budgets for developing leaders.

Using Leadership Development To Boost Return-on-Investment

I loved Spring Break when I was a kid. Every single year, my family drove from Central Illinois to Walt Disney World. When I say every single year, I mean 15 years in a row. I grew up with the Magic Kingdom. I watched EPCOT from idea to reality. It’s changed over the years, but there is still something truly magical about the Disney Experience.I was recently at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and was inspired by everything! Walt Disney is known for Disneyland, Disneyworld, and amazing cartoons. Just like in L&D, Walt Disney designed experiences to help people learn something about themselves, history, or human nature.In fact, a quote from Walt Disney is my new mantra: "I can dream, create, design, and build the best e-learning in the world, but it requires people to make my dream a reality."Keep your customers foremost when designing e-learning and make it worthwhile. By any measure of success, you need people to come to your course. People pay hundreds of dollars a day to take their family to the Disney resorts. Why? It’s not about technology and the bells and whistles—it’s the experience.The most popular rides at Walt Disney World have the least technology, but you aren’t always aware of it. I’ve stood in line for an hour to ride It’s a Small World. If you’ve ever been on the ride, think about it: As you drift between continents, you notice changes in the smells, air temperature, colors, music, and voices.So, how do I get people to spend their precious time taking a course I designed? Here are some ideas based on my Disney experiences.Have a theme and stick with it. Tommorowland, Frontierland, and Adventureland all have a unique theme. These themes are reinforced by engaging all of the senses. The employees in the Pirates of the Carribean use British accents; at the Haunted Mansion they emulate Vincent Price. The color of their uniforms, the music, and the smells all reinforce the theme.Engage all the senses. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, you know you get hungry walking down Main Street. Do you know why? They have pipes from the stores and restaurants to the sidewalks. They inundate you with the smell of popcorn and cookies and food. The fireworks are an amazing choreography of music and color and shapes.Appeal to everyone’s sense of wonder. Every attraction in the Disney parks makes you believe in the possibility. I wanted to be an astronaut because of Mission to Mars. I want to visit every inch of California because of Soarin’ Over California.If people must wait, entertain them. When you wait in line in Disney, every detail from the sounds, smells, and sights are preparing you for what is to come. If you must build a page-turner course, entertain them!Provide multiple paths. There were over 17.5 million visitors to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando had over 17.5 million visitors in 2012. The transportation systems to, from, and between the Disney theme parks are a model of efficiency because they allow visitors multiple options from buses to monorails to ferry boats.Always focus on the customer’s experience. There are tunnels below the parks to allow characters to appear and disappear without disturbing the magic of the illusion.You know your e-learning experience is successful when people are willing to pay.

Patricia Finch

About