An organization is only as good as its leaders. The markets are changing faster than ever. Customers are more demanding. Employees expect more. What are you doing to keep up?
When he founded our company more than 30 years ago, one of Duane Spader’s goals was to help organizations, “take an average person off the street and turn them into an above average employee.” Now Spader Business Management is doing just that for your leadership team! Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a collaborative effort with internationally known author and thought-leader, Dr. Michael O’Connor, to provide the best from both SBM and Dr. O’Connor’s decades of working with organizations.
This program is proven. H.O. Penn Machinery Company Inc. is just one example. They have used the program in their organization for 14 years and were recently recognized by Caterpillar, Inc. as one of the top two dealerships in the world for developing future leaders. The program works.
Every great team has both strong “starters” and a strong "bench" – those players who can step in when the starters need them. Spader’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) increases the performance of your starters and will also strengthen the depth of your bench.
Participate in one of our open programs, or work with us to customize a program to meet your company's needs. Your company’s participants will be stretched to new levels of performance as they are continuously challenged to develop new capabilities. Improvement is visible in these fast-paced, performance-focused sessions. Participants go back to work and are required to implement their new knowledge on the job before returning for the next session a few months later.
Each subsequent session reinforces prior learning and adds another level of depth. After five sessions over the course of 18 to 24 months, participants have developed the new leadership and management skills they need for today’s business environment and into the future!
We offer three types of leadership development programs so you’re sure to find one to fit your needs:
Open – These programs are open to all who wish to participate. They utilize a proven curriculum and participants benefit from working with leaders and managers from other industries and positions.
Shared – This option allows companies to partner with one or two other businesses in their geographic area, usually from the same industry. This allows some customization as you select session dates and locations that work for your companies. LDP trainers/consultants travel to your selected location(s).
Private – This option is designed for companies with at least 10 participants who want to have a leadership development program customized to their needs. It enables senior leaders to learn and mentor younger leaders throughout the sessions. We often create two or three teams to work on company projects with the sponsorship of a senior leader guiding each team.
Much has been written about the difference between a “leader” and a “manager.” Our research and experience indicate that less than five percent of people are both good managers and good leaders! Therefore, the difference is important to understand because certain situations and positions require more of one than of the other. Most people in roles of authority and influence need to demonstrate both at certain times depending on the needs of their organization, even though most people are not skilled at both.
Leaders tend to be future-oriented, focused on change, and seek to influence others by engaging their emotions and garnering their commitment. Managers, by contrast, are typically more present-focused, interested in controlling systems and processes and on holding people accountable based on defined roles.
| Leadership Focus | Management Focus |
| Future | Present |
| Change | Accountability |
| Emotions | Systems and processes |
| Growth | Stability |
| Vision and strategy | Operations |
Dr. Michael O’Connor explains the importance of each focus in the book, Stepping Stones to Success:
While we have called this program, “Leadership Development,” the curriculum focuses on developing both leadership and management capabilities. Both are necessary in every organization, and those in key positions should possess capabilities in both areas. At minimum, people in key positions need awareness of both in order to create the balance necessary in their organizations. Spader LDP provides the perfect forum to proactively develop those capabilities, making your organization’s leadership (and management) team even more effective!
Jeff Mitchell
Executive Vice President
H.O. Penn Machinery Company, Inc.
Contact us to learn more about how a Spader LDP program can help your business find fulfilling success.
