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The Extraordinary Leader

A strengths-based, data-driven, results-focused
approach to leadership development
Our programs take advantage of eight key features and insights. They:

Are built on research. We use a research-based, data-driven approach in all of our programs. Each has been built on a foundation of research that uses empirical data from hundreds of thousands of multi-rater (360) feedback surveys.

Utilize personalized assessments. Each of our programs starts with a validated, strengths-based multi-rater (360) assessment. They help the individual or team understand how they are currently perceived and evaluate potential areas of developmental focus.

Set lofty targets. Extraordinary performers drive extraordinary results, where good performers drive average results. The target for each program is not to simply get people “up-to-speed” or to be adequate – it’s to help them become extraordinary.

Emphasize differentiating competencies. Extraordinary performers differentiate themselves from good performers by exhibiting exceptional strength in competency areas critical to their jobs. Our research identifies the few critical competencies by correlating them with those perceived as the top performers.

Focus on strengths. Our research (and experience) shows that outstanding performers are not distinguished by any absence of weaknesses. As a result, we focus program participants on selecting and building a few existing strengths to the extraordinary level – not on selecting and “fixing” their weaknesses as most assessment and development programs do.

Employ powerful cross-training tools. World class distance runners, for example, don’t expect to significantly improve their times simply by running a lot more. Like world class athletes, we utilize a powerful “cross-training” developmental approach that enables participants to build on existent strengths (we call it Non-Linear DevelopmentTM).

Link development to business results. We put measures and drivers of business results into our development tools. Through statistical analysis we extract the behaviors that most powerfully drive those important business outcomes. We can then – with a laser-like focus – provide development for those specific behaviors. This is far more effective than the “shotgun blast” approach to development that is commonly used.

Make learning and development stick. Many organizations have trouble or need help focusing on follow-up – the part of the learning process that ensures learning sticks. Our programs are supported by tools to help participants easily map their development plans, remember to periodically report back how they’re doing, and make their implementation goal progress visible to others.

The Extraordinary Leader Workshop takes a strengths-based approach to leadership development in a one-day interactive learning experience that includes a pre-workshop. 360-degree leadership assessment and a development planning process. The workshop is designed to educate, train, and motivate your people to become great leaders. It provides each participant with new insights on what makes leaders extraordinary. They will develop a clear understanding of their own leadership competencies and profiles. And each participant will be given powerful tools they can use to build a personal, actionable development plan that will build on their strengths, passions, and help them become a GREAT leader.

During the course of the workshop a Zenger | Folkman or certified client facilitator will help participants:

  • understand the significant on-the-job performance difference between those leaders perceived as “extraordinary” compared to those who are viewed as “good” or “poor”
  • learn about the 16 critical leadership competencies research shows most differentiate extraordinary leaders from everyone else
  • discover why enhancing existing leadership strengths, not focusing solely on fixing weaknesses, is the most successful way to become an extraordinary leader
  • prepare to receive an individual 360 leadership feedback report, understand how the report is structured, learn to interpret the data, and discuss how it can best be used in a positive way
  • perform a step-by-step analysis of their individual leadership feedback reports, using a structured process with individual and group exercises
  • use on-the-spot peer coaching and Zenger | Folkman’s unique leadership cross-training approach to construct Individual Leadership Development Plans that are customized to their existing strengths, passions, and the organization’s needs
By the end of the workshop, participants will know exactly how they are currently perceived as leaders and will have a clear understanding of the impact they can make by becoming better. They will come away with an Individual Development Plan customized to their situation and objectives, as well as a variety of tools they can continue to use in their ongoing development efforts. They’ll learn to no longer be satisfied with average results, and will have been given tools and taught how to create action plans that truly help them move from good to extraordinary.

"At Boeing’s Aerospace Support division, we had concerns about employee commitment. Our work with the Extraordinary Leader introduced us to research showing a connection between leadership effectiveness and employee commitment. Partnering with Zenger | Folkman, we created a competency model, assessment, and workshop to help our leaders develop their strengthsx our leaders achieved an across-the-board improvement of close to 15% in their year-over-year employee commitment scores. Not only did our best leaders get better, but our ‘average’ and even ‘poorest’ leaders showed marked improvement in their scores.”

—Dee Thomas
HR Director, Boeing Aerospace Support

Audience: The Extraordinary Leader Workshop is designed for anyone with the responsibility to lead others. It is applicable to leaders at all levels of an organization, from senior executives to first-line supervisors. It may be delivered to executive or management teams, other intact or cross-functional work teams, or to individuals gathered from different parts of an organization.

Materials: Each participants will have participated in the online Extraordinary Leader multi-rater (360) assessment prior to the workshop and will received their own individual feedback report during the workshop. Each will also receive an Extraordinary Leader Participant Manual and Competency Companion Development Guide, and a hard-copy version of Jack Zenger’s and Joe Folkman’s book, The Extraordinary Leader: Turning Good Managers into Great Leaders (McGraw-Hill, 2002).

Customization: The Extraordinary Leader Workshop and 360 assessment can easily be customized. Most custom versions are designed to meet two types of organizational needs:

  • To map to an organization’s existing competency model. In addition to the 16 differentiating competencies used in the standard workshop, Zenger | Folkman has already researched, validated, and mapped the workshop materials, and customized the 360 assessment, to more than 60 other competencies used by its client organizations. We regularly work with our clients to customize our materials, assessments, and tools to meet their unique competencies and other needs.
  • To deliver the Extraordinary Leader in an individual coaching format. Some organizations prefer to use a one-on-one coaching approach to deliver the Extraordinary Leader content, review the 360 assessment report, and build the participants’ development plans. We support these types of implementations by still providing the 360 assessment, materials, and tools, and additionally offering a one-day certification program for the organization’s coaches to familiarize them with the Extraordinary Leader concepts, materials, assessment, and tools.

Benefits: Organizations typically describe the following benefits using the Extraordinary Leader Workshop and approach:

  1. Safe, proven. The research of two industry thought leaders with over 75 years of experience in leadership, assessment and feedback, and training and development provides the foundation. This program is used around the world by leading Fortune 500 companies.
  2. Data-driven. Empirical data is used to demonstrate and quantify the link between leadership effectiveness and business results.
  3. Has a validated starting point. Baseline 360’s and norms are provided to individual leaders, and aggregated results to entire teams or workgroups, letting every individual and every team know where they are and how far they have to go.
  4. Structured process. A complete assessment and development planning process is used with a well-researched competency model. (If requested, all may be customized to map to an organization’s existing competency model.) This process helps participants prioritize leadership development needs.
  5. Positive experience. The “building strengths” focus is individually and organizationally a much more positive, motivating experience than the traditional “we’re going to fix your weaknesses” approach.
  6. Clear path. The 360 assessment PLUS an actionable process to follow leaves participants with a clear roadmap and the tools needed to become extraordinary.
  7. Results-focused. The Extraordinary Leader program communicates higher leadership expectations for all by demonstrating that “good” performance isn’t “good enough” for great bottom-line results.
  8. Sets high bar. Normative comparisons at the 90th and 75th percentile are provided on individual feedback reports providing high aspirational targets.
  9. Great follow-up program. Organizations are given a positive, structured development experience if they need to recover from a “that was interesting” 360 with no follow-up and action-planning help for participants.
  10. Supports common KI’s. Research data clearly demonstrates how extraordinary leaders deliver better results in typical “Key Indicators” of organizational success, like employee and customer satisfaction, and employee commitment and loyalty.

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