Is leadership development critical to your future?

The absence of true leadership capabilities among business owners and entrepreneurs is, perhaps, the most overlooked pitfall that will sink a business quickly. Many business owners and entrepreneurs believe themselves to be leaders when they are little more than managers at best. Leadership is rare and must be learned, practiced and cultivated. Grooming leaders rather than fostering micro managing bullies is what will secure your future as a leader in your industry. The following is taken directly from published data compiled by Goremotely that reflects the importance leadership will play in your future:

• 77% of corporations experience leadership gaps.

  Employees typically seek jobs at companies that have leadership development, statistics show. But employers seek candidates that already have some form of leadership skills. This is because management doesn’t want to spend the time or money to train employees to develop their leadership skills.

• 83% of employers state it’s crucial to develop leaders at all levels.

  Employers in the US spent top dollar to develop their workers’ skills through training and education. While 83% of employers agree that it’s crucial to develop their employees’ skills, only 5% of corporations actually implement these improvements. Perhaps this is the reason why poor leadership statistics are so much more common than statistics about good leadership.

• 63% of Millennials believe their leadership skills are not being fully developed.

  Another study showed that 71% of Millennials will leave their job within two and three years if they feel their leadership skills are lacking and there’s no room for growth.

• Only 14% of CEOs have the leadership talent they need to grow their businesses.

  Finding candidates to fill leadership roles can be difficult. In larger corporations, CEOs need candidates that have strong personalities to take on managerial roles. Unfortunately, few have the ability to handle the job.

• 80% of work accidents occur due to stress from a negative work culture.

  How do you measure good leadership?  Well, you can start by implementing positive reinforcement. Positivity is the ultimate method to motivate change in the workplace and increase workflow. Offering incentives for work performance, creating a light-hearted environment, and acknowledging employees’ efforts will encourage them to work more efficiently.

• 79% of employees quit their jobs due to a lack of appreciation.

  Be kind to your staff and treat them well – and you’ll receive the same in return. According to these employee turnover statistics, 8 in 10 employees quit if they don’t receive valuable appreciation. One of the simplest ways leaders can show employees that they care is to express their appreciation for the work they do. This can be in the form of an emailed letter of appreciation or award ceremonies.

• 70% of employees in the US are unhappy in their jobs due to negative management.

  Leadership stats state that many employees are miserable in their jobs because of a lack of effective management. This could be because leaders are struggling to find ways to engage with employees. But how leaders engage employees is up to them.  Studies show that employees feel less stressed and under pressure when they can engage with their leaders regularly. Employees will work more effectively if they have proper guidance from their leaders.

• One in five employees is at risk of burnout due to low employee and leadership engagement.

  Not presenting employees with clear and realistic goals could result in major burnout in the workplace. But leaders can prevent burnout by engaging with staff and setting realistic goals to reach their targets. Employees who are experiencing burnout will take more time off work because of their stressful environments. There’s also a greater chance of employees seeking a different job due to the pressure they’re put under and the lack of proper management.

• 38% of new leaders fail within the first 18 months.

  This figure is extremely worrying. So, how can you avoid becoming part of this statistic? Well, in order for leaders to become successful in their roles, they must implement positive reinforcement, motivate their team, and lead by example.

• Women are more resilient leaders than men.

  According to women leadership statistics, females have shown to have more resilience (54.7 percentile) than men (49.3 percentile). Women also have excellent problem-solving skills, and they’re incredibly reliable and motivated.

• Only 10% of CEOs are natural leaders who guide staff by example.

  An excellent manager will show staff how to behave through their own actions. Leaders can’t reinforce punctuality and productivity if they don’t lead by example. Employees tend to watch closely what their leaders are doing, and they will follow their actions.

• Uninspiring leadership stats show that only 2.6% of management are highly engaged.

  How do leaders engage employees?  Through their actions and the way they treat those around them. Uninspiring leaders are typically too relaxed, expect others to do their work for them, and show signs of disrespectful behavior towards staff. Uninspiring leaders can be detrimental to a company’s growth. Since they lead by example, staff members may detect the bad habits of their managers, which could decrease workflow.

-Written by Kevin Sawyer