Ever been on a course that told you something you already knew?

Here’s an example. Quite a bit of media attention over the past month or so has been devoted to a course being offered to German business people that seeks to impress upon them the leadership lessons that can be learned from observing wolves.

For no doubt a pretty high course fee, attendees gather at a nature reserve in the Forests of Brandenburg to learn that the pack leader is not aggressive… so lesson, just because you’re the boss you do not have to shout. You will also learn that the pack will get rid of its leader if the alpha male doesn’t perform.

Suggestion.
Any leader who had to attend a course to learn that aggression should not form a part of their leadership style really shouldn’t be in that position.

And any leader wasting money on courses like these needs to think again. Just what training are your people enjoying at your company’s expense? I know of one company that’s sent people on an awareness and self-development course that made the delegates think so much about the meaning of their lives that they left the company in their droves. I know of others who spend a week confronting their fears whilst caving, diving and climbing. They come back on a high that’s quickly stifled by the organisation’s culture on return.

What am I getting at? Well, think hard about the skill gaps in your organisation and seek the most relevant training possible to plug those gaps. And think hard too about whether people will be able to apply what they have learned. Because if they cannot, you’ve probably wasted their time and your money.

Are you wasting time and money?

Tags: aggression attendees boss brandenburg delegates droves fears forests german business leadership lessons leadership style media attention nature reserve no doubt pack leader self development course skill gaps suggestion wasting money wolves