Our global leadership crisis has me thinking about the need to develop the leader inside each and every one of us.

Leadership development is often reserved for our “best and brightest”, the people that have been identified as “high-potential” performers. This practice and philosophy has surely contributed to the widespread state of inept governance and corporate corruption we see in headlines across the globe. If we can no longer count on our best and brightest to lead, perhaps it’s time to to consider a new approach.

The unprecedented, exponential pace of global change demands a new vision of everyone as leader.
A Japanese proverb advises: “None of us is as smart as all of us.” and there is not a single person I can think of who I would not benefit from leadership development- particularly in the crucial skills of “leading self”. This approach also has the added benefit of increasing employee engagement. Investing in the development of people has a multiplier effect on desired performance.
It is important to note that the cost of providing development opportunities has dropped dramatically. Thanks to technology, the cost of high-quality self-development programs are now within the reach of any organization.

Take for example the leadership learning system recently created by Richard Barrett.

The New Leadership Paradigm training program is a state-of-the-art leadership development learning system based on evolutionary principles.
The system is flexible, customizable, and comprehensive. It provides for both emergent and structured learning in a self-managed or facilitated learning environment.
The training program is comprised of four learning modules:
  1. Leading self
  2. Leading a team
  3. Leading an organisation
  4. Leading in society
The New Leadership Paradigm web site and learning materials are updated on a regular basis based on feedback and suggestions from users and facilitators of the learning system. It is a collective, collaborative, and evolutionary learning venture that can deliver cost-effective leadership training to everyone in your organization.
While it makes sense to limit participation in module 3 and 4 to your high-potentials and high-performers, it makes equal sense to offer modules 1 and 2 to everyone in your organization. Everyone can benefit from more focus and development in the areas of personal mastery and teamwork.
This time of great change calls for each of us to step up to greater personal mastery and a greater appreciation of  what we can accomplish as leaders and members of teams.

After all, none of us is as smart as all of us.