Brilliant LeaderLeadership Development versus Leadership Training – Is there a difference?
When I introduce myself to people as a Leadership Development specialist one of the more common responses revolves around leadership training – “So you run leadership training?”, “What type of leadership training do you specialize in?”, “I really value leadership training” etc.
Is there really a difference between leadership training and leadership development? You bet there is and it is much more than an exercise in semantics.
Leadership training is a learning intervention. Usually it is a classroom based event although in recent years the term can also be applied to e-learning courses. And yes, as a Leadership Development specialist I do run classroom based learning interventions but there is much more to true leadership development than training courses.
Leadership development is a process of learning, application, experience and more learning. If you have read the ‘about’ page of this site you will have seen that I make the point that with over 25 years of experience in leadership and leadership development I know that I still have plenty more to learn. It’s not a process that ever ends because leadership is not an exact science, it is about understanding people and inspiring them to do great things – which is a lifetime of learning for even the most naturally gifted of leaders.
Leadership development should begin when someone is an individual contributor planning a career path of managing people or even, as an expert or professional leader without direct reports. Ideally, this development will continue right through until someone retires – it shouldn’t even stop when they become CEO.
During a leadership career, leadership development will include a number of interventions such as attending training courses, reading books and articles, coaching, receiving multi-perspective feedback, mentoring and peer learning activities. In addition to planned learning interventions leadership development will require application of this learning in practical situations together with the learning from experience and new situations that will occur throughout the leader’s career.
My role as a Leadership Development specialist is to facilitate all of the above. Sure, I do deliver some leadership training programs but I will also be involved in a number of other activities to ensure the leaders I work with have the very best opportunity to fulfill their potential.
See you at the top 
Simon
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11 Responses to “Leadership Development versus Leadership Training – Is there a difference?”
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Its a wonderful post right here in which i found many important tips and point to be followed by to enhance the skill of leadership. Thanks for sharing.
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yes there is a difference…leadership training results only in short term gains but development results in an individual who is molded in a certain form that defines who he is…therefore i think we should strive to develop leaders not just train them…but that’s just me:-)
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Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would truly benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Regards!
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Yes, you are welcome to quote my posts as long as you provide the appropriate attributions that you mention.
Best regards
Simon
Leadership Development versus Leadership Training – Is there a difference?. This question answer the following question: The leader born or made?, We think that’s possible to made.
You have perfectly presented the difference between leadership development and leadership[ training. Developing leadership training skills lead to a long term success of an individual. Tips you have mentioned are very useful that can help in developing leadership skills.
Leaders are born not made, but sometimes it only takes training of the sort you have described to awaken the leader in one. Great post!
Thanks for presenting the difference between leadership training and leadership development so well. It has been aptly put that leadership is not an exact science .It has been rightly sated that “develop leaders not just train them “. Would look forward to more of such gripping share.
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says:
What comes in to my mind when we say leadership development is we have the leadership skills, we just need to develop it. And for me, leadership training sometimes is for those who have no leadership skills yet. Leadership development is a higher learning compared to leadership training.
It’s only my opinion though. Nice article.
Hi Andrei – that is a very interesting and useful perspective. Thank you.
I appreciate your style and ease to deal with this issue? A full article on which I will undoubtedly support for my next article. Regards, Tom.
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