The art of 21st-century leadership: From succession planning to building a leadership factory
Complicated times demand great leaders. Here’s an overview of traits and practices required to succeed as a leader today and a look at the factory model that can help aspiring managers ascend.
Some leadership skills can be taught in the classroom, but by and large, the most effective training and transfer of leadership skills happen on the job. They occur in the assessment, selection, and training pathways of new hires and through mentorship and apprenticeship, role modeling and coaching, and other real-world interactions.
The leader you are has a ripple effect that radiates through your business and your employees – into the market and to your customers, vendors and stakeholders. It can go even further than this. It is highly contagious. Whether you like it or not, you are either spreading rainbows or spreading thunderstorms – sometimes both.
In 2024, with the continued acceleration of societal, technological, and organizational change, Harvard Business Publishing conducted a major global study, aiming to enrich our understanding of the forces that are driving a transformation in leadership development.
Accidental managers are people that have moved up the corporate ladder with no formal training in management or leadership. To put it simply, they are not correctly trained or equipped to manage people. Among those workers who told the researchers they had an ineffective manager, only one-third said they were motivated to do a good job and as many as half are considering leaving in the next 12 months.
Generation Z (Gen Z) is coming, and they are different. Gen Z will account for 27% of the workforce (surpassing Baby Boomers (Glassdoor, 2024)) in developed countries, globally, by 2025 (Harvest, 2024). As the oldest members of Gen Z begin to establish themselves in the professional world, the workplace is undergoing a seismic shift (Financial Times, 2024). The first generation to be born entirely digitally, grew up with social media, mobile phones, and an abundance of information at their fingertips (McKinsey & Company, 2018).
Aoife Coonagh, Business Relationship Manager in Harvest reviews and shares insights about ‘The Skill Code’ by Matt Beane, and ‘Think Again’ by Adam Grant.
Are you interested in hearing Excellent Learning and Development and Organisational Development advice? Our series will expose you to industry experts who will share their experiences of achieving real change – resulting in better organisations underpinned by team and individual performance.
Julie Ryan, Deputy Managing Director of Harvest reviews and shares insights about ‘Leadership Plain and Simple’ by Steve Radcliffe, and ‘The Promise that Changes Everything; I Won’t Interrupt You’ by Nancy Kline.
Captivating Minds: Overcoming Short Attention Spans with Engaging Learning Strategies
Over the past several years, coaching has evolved into one of the most important modes of communication that promotes high-calibre reasoning, the creation of solutions, and performance-based advancement.
Over the past several years, coaching has evolved into one of the most important modes of communication that promotes high-calibre reasoning, the creation of solutions, and performance-based advancement.
Read our reviews of Quiet by Susan Cain and Emotional Agility by Susan David.
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What Our Clients Have To Say
“The Harvest team have a key skill of getting under the skin of your business to determine what you really need, as opposed to what you think you want. The sales team felt that they were being supported and developed to get results, not just completing another training course. The coaching mindset has been a shift change and our sales teams are owning their plans and outcomes.”
Kathy Simpson
Head of HR Business Partnernship, Musgrave
“As the HR Director for Chadwicks Group we have partnered with Harvest on numerous learning initiatives and can confidently say that Harvest always deliver a programme that meets the needs of our organisation. From the design stage through to delivery, they are professional, insightful and thorough ensuring the original objectives are met and exhibited in the training programme. The actual training is always on point, interactive and inspiring. Instructors are knowledgeable, engaging, and provided clear, concise material. Colleagues give great feedback and can immediately apply the learning to their work. I cannot recommend Harvest highly enough. They exceed expectations, and I am confident that anyone who partners with them will find their organisational goals are easier to achieve.”
Gareth McGrane
Human Resources Director at Chadwicks Group, Chadwicks
“The ComReg HR team and I have successfully collaborated with Nicola and the Harvest team on several initiatives over the past decade. Most recently, we have worked with Ailish Reid on developing a be-spoke series of mentoring programmes and with Tony Hayes on recruitment related learning. These are experts, who listen, advise, direct and collaborate to understand our needs and deliver to a high standard. Their professionalism, commitment and delivery are impressive and continue to lead to successful outcomes.”
Mary McDermott
Head of HR, ComReg
‘We, in Depaul, have worked with Harvest Management Consultants on a number of learning programmes as they have an excellent understanding of our needs and tailor their offerings to work within our context. They deliver engaging content and the facilitation is exceptional in terms of quality”
Sarah Reeves
Director of People & Organisation, DePaul
“We initially engaged with Nicola and the Harvest Team to invigorate our sales development within our Local Office Network. From the outset Harvest focused on meeting us where we were and did a deep dive to really understand us, “get us” and align their solution to our values and specific needs. This is why we went back to them when we began looking at our FBD Mentoring Programme to ensure we had a robust framework in place. Subsequently we engaged with Harvest to support us with our 1st Graduate Development Programme which launched in October 2022. We continue to benefit from the tools, systems and techniques which Harvest introduced us to.”
Carmel Comiskey
Communications Manager, FBD
“We engaged with Harvest Training for a bespoke Leadership and Talent Development Programme for some of our senior and middle management teams, and the feedback from every delegate has been hugely positive. The detailed pre-work that went into developing the programme to best suit our teams’ needs was clearly visible in the classroom as the masterclasses were interactive, engaging and highly relevant. The course facilitators are both commercial and training experts who articulately relay their knowledge and pragmatism to the leaning environment of the classroom. I would have no hesitation in recommending Harvest as your expert training solutions provider.”
Carmel Treacy
Group HR Director, Gowan Group
“Harvest has worked on Leadership and Development training programmes with the IFA Board and Executive Council – and with a number of our National Commodity Committees – and also on Negotiating Skills with the FMP (Fresh Milk Producers) committee . They have also taken the lead on our annual “Future Leaders Programme” over this period. This longstanding relationship with Harvest has been very positive from our perspective with consistently excellent feedback from these programmes. Harvest have also assisted us in focus groups and working groups to help identify the development needs and skills gaps and this guidance from a professional training body has been critical in helping our Network to future proof and future plan.“
Celine Reynolds
Network Manager, IFA
“Landbell have partnered with Harvest to design and deliver our Global Leadership Academy and several other development initiatives. Their ability to translate a brief into a practical and impactful solution, in the context of our organisation is excellent. Their approach of inclusivity, creativity, challenge, and support ensures a dynamic learning experience and tangible outputs. Their focus on relationship development and continuous improvement gives us confidence in the continuing partnership.”
Martin Tobin
CEO – European Recyling Platform Ireland, Landbell
“The Harvest team have a key skill of getting under the skin of your business to determine what you really need, as opposed to what you think you want. The sales team felt that they were being supported and developed to get results, not just completing another training course. The coaching mindset has been a shift change and our sales teams are owning their plans and outcomes.”
Kathy Simpson
Head of HR Business Partnernship, Musgrave
“As the HR Director for Chadwicks Group we have partnered with Harvest on numerous learning initiatives and can confidently say that Harvest always deliver a programme that meets the needs of our organisation. From the design stage through to delivery, they are professional, insightful and thorough ensuring the original objectives are met and exhibited in the training programme. The actual training is always on point, interactive and inspiring. Instructors are knowledgeable, engaging, and provided clear, concise material. Colleagues give great feedback and can immediately apply the learning to their work. I cannot recommend Harvest highly enough. They exceed expectations, and I am confident that anyone who partners with them will find their organisational goals are easier to achieve.”
Gareth McGrane
Human Resources Director at Chadwicks Group, Chadwicks
“The ComReg HR team and I have successfully collaborated with Nicola and the Harvest team on several initiatives over the past decade. Most recently, we have worked with Ailish Reid on developing a be-spoke series of mentoring programmes and with Tony Hayes on recruitment related learning. These are experts, who listen, advise, direct and collaborate to understand our needs and deliver to a high standard. Their professionalism, commitment and delivery are impressive and continue to lead to successful outcomes.”
Mary McDermott
Head of HR, ComReg
‘We, in Depaul, have worked with Harvest Management Consultants on a number of learning programmes as they have an excellent understanding of our needs and tailor their offerings to work within our context. They deliver engaging content and the facilitation is exceptional in terms of quality”
Sarah Reeves
Director of People & Organisation, DePaul
“We initially engaged with Nicola and the Harvest Team to invigorate our sales development within our Local Office Network. From the outset Harvest focused on meeting us where we were and did a deep dive to really understand us, “get us” and align their solution to our values and specific needs. This is why we went back to them when we began looking at our FBD Mentoring Programme to ensure we had a robust framework in place. Subsequently we engaged with Harvest to support us with our 1st Graduate Development Programme which launched in October 2022. We continue to benefit from the tools, systems and techniques which Harvest introduced us to.”
Carmel Comiskey
Communications Manager, FBD
“We engaged with Harvest Training for a bespoke Leadership and Talent Development Programme for some of our senior and middle management teams, and the feedback from every delegate has been hugely positive. The detailed pre-work that went into developing the programme to best suit our teams’ needs was clearly visible in the classroom as the masterclasses were interactive, engaging and highly relevant. The course facilitators are both commercial and training experts who articulately relay their knowledge and pragmatism to the leaning environment of the classroom. I would have no hesitation in recommending Harvest as your expert training solutions provider.”
Carmel Treacy
Group HR Director, Gowan Group
“Harvest has worked on Leadership and Development training programmes with the IFA Board and Executive Council – and with a number of our National Commodity Committees – and also on Negotiating Skills with the FMP (Fresh Milk Producers) committee . They have also taken the lead on our annual “Future Leaders Programme” over this period. This longstanding relationship with Harvest has been very positive from our perspective with consistently excellent feedback from these programmes. Harvest have also assisted us in focus groups and working groups to help identify the development needs and skills gaps and this guidance from a professional training body has been critical in helping our Network to future proof and future plan.“
Celine Reynolds
Network Manager, IFA
“Landbell have partnered with Harvest to design and deliver our Global Leadership Academy and several other development initiatives. Their ability to translate a brief into a practical and impactful solution, in the context of our organisation is excellent. Their approach of inclusivity, creativity, challenge, and support ensures a dynamic learning experience and tangible outputs. Their focus on relationship development and continuous improvement gives us confidence in the continuing partnership.”