E-Learning-Inclusivo (Mashup)

One of the main messages that permeates through this age of uncertainty in which we live is the need to work together. The big problems of the world cannot be tackled alone - climate change, youth unemployment, geo-political instability all require people to work together. What’s more, the great mega trends of digitization, globalization and sustainability, and the sheer pace and complexity of change mean that answers are difficult to find.

There are fewer precedents on which to base decisions, less time to become accustomed to patterns and attuned to gut feelings, and while there is more data than ever before, it’s tough to make sense of it and not drown in complexity.

The job in front of us in leadership development mirrors this. Not only do we face these issues ourselves as individuals and leaders but we also have responsibility for preparing people in roles of current and future significance to become better at dealing with it all. It is a major responsibility and one we are more likely to succeed in if we collaborate in our response.

Collaboration is not new in Leadership Development. However, the kind of collaboration that is most appropriate for us now may be different from how it has been in the past...

Uber has disrupted the taxi industry, Airbnb the hotel industry and Facebook has disrupted the media industry. These are significant shifts which are transforming business and society, with the respective organizations becoming ultra-successful by responding to the changing needs, preferences and values of consumers. So, what about the executive education industry, is that being disrupted?

Executive education is a massive industry, in the US alone companies spend $14 billion (€12.5 billion) annually on leadership development, the primary providers being business schools. But whether the providers of leadership development programs are meeting the satisfaction and needs of their target audience remains to be an open question.

Take a lesson from those who have braved the fire and come out on the other side.