Developing_AJ0 managers_NN2 and_CJC leaders_NN2 in_PRP middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 is_VBZ a_AT0 far_AV0 different_AJ0 challenge_NN1 than_CJS in_PRP large_AJ0 companies_NN2 ,_PUN for_PRP a_AT0 variety_NN1 of_PRF reasons_NN2 ._SENT In_PRP my_DPS work_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP hear_VVB these_DT0 three_CRD most_AV0 often_AV0 :_PUN 
Lack_NN1 of_PRF resources_NN2 :_PUN "_PUQ We_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 afford_VVI to_TO0 send_VVI our_DPS emerging_AJ0 leaders_NN2 to_PRP business_NN1 school_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Perceived_AJ0 lack_NN1 of_PRF time_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ We_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 have_VHI the_AT0 staffing_NN1 to_TO0 send_VVI our_DPS leadership_NN1 /_PUN management_NN1 teams_NN2 on_PRP offsites_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Not_XX0 sure_AJ0 if_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ a_AT0 good_AJ0 fit_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ We_PNP 're_VBB not_XX0 running_VVG Amazon_NP0 here_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 see_VVI how_AVQ the_AT0 leadership_NN1 programs_NN2 I_PNP hear_VVB about_AVP can_VM0 address_VVI our_DPS problems_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ 
One_PNI ca_VM0 n't_XX0 just_AV0 dismiss_VVI these_DT0 objections_NN2 ;_PUN they_PNP reflect_VVB real_AJ0 constraints_NN2 and_CJC concerns_NN2 ._SENT Underlying_VVG all_DT0 three_CRD is_VBZ the_AT0 fact_NN1 that_CJT middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 are_VBB ,_PUN by_PRP and_CJC large_AJ0 ,_PUN thinly_AV0 managed_VVN ._SENT They_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 have_VHI many_DT0 layers_NN2 of_PRF hierarchy_NN1 and_CJC often_AV0 rely_VVB on_PRP informal_AJ0 processes_NN2 for_PRP talent_NN1 management_NN1 and_CJC development_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC every_AT0 leader_NN1 ,_PUN from_PRP the_AT0 CEO_NN1 down_AVP ,_PUN has_VHZ a_AT0 full_AJ0 plate_NN1 of_PRF daily_AJ0 responsibilities_NN2 and_CJC not_XX0 much_DT0 capacity_NN1 to_TO0 take_VVI on_PRP tasks_NN2 that_CJT do_VDB n't_XX0 drive_VVI the_AT0 day_NN1 's_POS work_NN1 forward_AV0 ._SENT 
But_CJC it_PNP 's_VBZ important_AJ0 to_TO0 overcome_VVI the_AT0 objections_NN2 —_PUN middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 stand_VVB to_TO0 benefit_VVI enormously_AV0 from_PRP leadership_NN1 development_NN1 programs_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC not_XX0 employing_VVG them_PNP can_VM0 cost_VVI them_PNP dearly_AV0 ._SENT Designing_VVG and_CJC delivering_VVG a_AT0 fit-for-purpose_AJ0 program_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX0 need_VVI to_TO0 be_VBI out_AVP of_PRF reach_NN1 ._SENT 
Data_NN0 from_PRP the_AT0 National_AJ0 Center_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 Middle_AJ0 Market_NN1 shows_VVZ a_AT0 clear_AJ0 correlation_NN1 between_PRP superior_AJ0 talent_NN1 planning_NN1 and_CJC company_NN1 performance_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC while_CJS leaders_NN2 rate_VVB themselves_PNX high_AJ0 in_PRP their_DPS ability_NN1 to_TO0 identify_VVI and_CJC assess_VVI their_DPS best_AJS performers_NN2 ,_PUN they_PNP give_VVB themselves_PNX poor_AJ0 marks_NN2 in_PRP four_CRD critical_AJ0 areas_NN2 that_DT0 leadership_NN1 development_NN1 programs_NN2 address_NN1 :_PUN succession_NN1 planning_NN1 ,_PUN developing_VVG high_AJ0 potentials_NN2 ,_PUN identifying_VVG retention_NN1 risks_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC mapping_VVG and_CJC filling_VVG skills_NN2 gaps_NN2 ._SENT 
Insight_NN1 Center_NN1 Collection_NN1 
Opportunities_NN2 for_PRP Midsize_AJ0 Businesses_NN2 in_PRP 2021_CRD 
Set_VVB yourself_PNX up_AVP to_TO0 thrive_VVI ._SENT 
In_PRP two_CRD decades_NN2 of_PRF crafting_VVG and_CJC delivering_VVG leadership_NN1 development_NN1 programs_NN2 mostly_AV0 for_PRP middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 ,_PUN I_PNP 've_VHB learned_VVN several_DT0 lessons_NN2 about_PRP how_AVQ to_TO0 design_VVI programs_NN2 that_CJT work_VVB ._SENT 
Design_VVB the_AT0 program_NN1 to_TO0 address_VVI urgent_AJ0 problems_NN2 ._SENT Sure_AJ0 ,_PUN leadership_NN1 development_NN1 is_VBZ an_AT0 investment_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 future_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC it_PNP can_VM0 also_AV0 fix_VVI immediate_AJ0 problems_NN2 ._SENT What_DTQ appears_VVZ to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 resource_NN1 constraint_NN1 —_PUN too_AV0 little_AJ0 money_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 little_AJ0 time_NN1 —_PUN can_VM0 disappear_VVI if_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ framed_VVN correctly_AV0 ._SENT 
We_PNP worked_VVD with_PRP a_AT0 health_NN1 care_NN1 technology_NN1 firm_NN1 that_CJT was_VBD growing_VVG so_AV0 fast_AJ0 that_CJT senior_AJ0 leadership_NN1 resisted_VVD a_AT0 development_NN1 program_NN1 for_PRP emerging_AJ0 leaders_NN2 because_CJS of_PRF the_AT0 time_NN1 commitment_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP took_VVD about_PRP three_CRD months_NN2 of_PRF cajoling_VVG by_PRP both_AV0 me_PNP and_CJC the_AT0 HR_NN0 leader_NN1 to_TO0 finally_AV0 convince_VVI the_AT0 CEO_NN1 and_CJC CTO_NN1 to_TO0 give_VVI it_PNP a_AT0 try_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP began_VVD the_AT0 program_NN1 by_PRP focusing_VVG on_PRP one_CRD of_PRF their_DPS most_DT0 pressing_AJ0 needs_NN2 :_PUN Removing_VVG bottlenecks_NN2 by_PRP giving_VVG managers_NN2 the_AT0 skills_NN2 to_TO0 take_VVI charge_NN1 of_PRF projects_NN2 from_PRP their_DPS bosses_NN2 ,_PUN thereby_AV0 freeing_VVG up_AVP senior_AJ0 leaders_NN2 '_POS time_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 investment_NN1 in_PRP leadership_NN1 development_NN1 actually_AV0 freed_VVN up_AVP more_DT0 time_NN1 than_CJS it_PNP cost_VVB ._SENT 
Focus_VVB on_PRP scaling_NN1 ,_PUN not_XX0 just_AV0 growing_AJ0 ._SENT Growth_NN1 and_CJC scale_NN1 are_VBB n't_XX0 the_AT0 same_DT0 ._SENT In_PRP general_AJ0 ,_PUN we_PNP think_VVB of_PRF growth_NN1 in_PRP linear_AJ0 terms_NN2 :_PUN A_AT0 company_NN1 adds_VVZ new_AJ0 resources_NN2 (_PUL capital_NN1 ,_PUN people_NN0 ,_PUN or_CJC technology_NN1 )_PUR as_PRP its_DPS revenue_NN1 increases_NN2 ._SENT By_PRP contrast_NN1 ,_PUN scaling_NN1 occurs_VVZ when_CJS revenue_NN1 increases_VVZ without_PRP a_AT0 substantial_AJ0 increase_NN1 in_PRP resources_NN2 ._SENT Understanding_VVG this_DT0 distinction_NN1 helped_VVD the_AT0 health-tech_AJ0 company_NN1 view_NN1 leadership_NN1 development_NN1 through_PRP a_AT0 new_AJ0 lens_NN1 ._SENT 
Together_AV0 ,_PUN we_PNP developed_VVD two_CRD matrices_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 first_ORD ,_PUN an_AT0 empowerment_NN1 matrix_NN1 ,_PUN mapped_VVD the_AT0 attainment_NN1 of_PRF skills_NN2 against_PRP the_AT0 ability_NN1 to_TO0 take_VVI on_PRP new_AJ0 responsibilities_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 second_ORD showed_VVD the_AT0 capabilities_NN2 of_PRF leaders_NN2 in_PRP each_DT0 department_NN1 alongside_PRP the_AT0 capabilities_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 enterprise_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 whole_NN1 ._SENT Together_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 two_CRD frameworks_NN2 helped_VVD the_AT0 top_AJ0 executives_NN2 see_VVB how_AVQ to_TO0 align_VVI leadership-development_NN1 investments_NN2 with_PRP the_AT0 company_NN1 's_VBZ most_AV0 pressing_AJ0 growth_NN1 needs_NN2 ,_PUN which_DTQ allowed_VVD top_AJ0 management_NN1 to_TO0 reduce_VVI the_AT0 amount_NN1 of_PRF time_NN1 they_PNP spent_VVD supervising_VVG (_PUL working_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 business_NN1 )_PUR and_CJC increase_VVB the_AT0 time_NN1 they_PNP spent_VVD leading_AJ0 (_PUL working_VVG on_PRP the_AT0 business_NN1 )_PUR ._SENT 
Within_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD six_CRD months_NN2 of_PRF implementing_VVG these_DT0 two_CRD frameworks_NN2 ,_PUN productivity_NN1 spiked_VVN by_PRP 30_CRD %_NN0 ,_PUN and_CJC in_PRP a_AT0 recent_AJ0 conversation_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 CEO_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP expressed_VVD that_CJT they_PNP 're_VBB now_AV0 beginning_VVG to_TO0 have_VHI a_AT0 scalable_AJ0 model_NN1 ._SENT Once_CJS the_AT0 burden_NN1 of_PRF working_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 business_NN1 had_VHD been_VBN substantially_AV0 lightened_VVN ,_PUN we_PNP rolled_VVD out_AVP the_AT0 remaining_AJ0 elements_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 program_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ has_VHZ helped_VVN the_AT0 company_NN1 exceed_VVB its_DPS revenue_NN1 goals_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 last_ORD three_CRD years_NN2 ._SENT 
Train_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 real_AJ0 world_NN1 as_CJS well_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 classroom_NN1 ._SENT Middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 are_VBB rightly_AV0 reluctant_AJ0 to_TO0 "_PUQ take_VVI people_NN0 off_PRP the_AT0 field_NN1 "_PUQ for_PRP development_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP encountered_VVD that_DT0 problem_NN1 working_VVG with_PRP a_AT0 discount_NN1 retailer_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Northeast_NN1 that_CJT was_VBD experiencing_VVG exponential_NN1 growth_NN1 ._SENT This_DT0 growth_NN1 was_VBD creating_VVG strain_NN1 on_PRP every_AT0 aspect_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 business_NN1 ,_PUN from_PRP IT_NN1 and_CJC logistics_NN1 to_PRP merchandising_NN1 and_CJC store_NN1 management_NN1 ._SENT 
We_PNP worked_VVD with_PRP their_DPS internal_AJ0 learning_NN1 and_CJC development_NN1 team_NN1 to_TO0 build_VVI a_AT0 program_NN1 for_PRP high-potential_AJ0 leaders_NN2 around_PRP the_AT0 real-world_AJ0 problems_NN2 the_AT0 company_NN1 was_VBD facing_VVG ._SENT Working_VVG with_PRP successive_AJ0 cadres_NN2 of_PRF emerging_AJ0 leaders_NN2 ,_PUN we_PNP created_VVD groups_NN2 that_CJT chose_VVD specific_AJ0 challenges_NN2 the_AT0 company_NN1 faced_VVD ,_PUN researched_VVD ,_PUN and_CJC developed_AJ0 solutions_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC presented_VVD them_PNP to_PRP the_AT0 senior_AJ0 management_NN1 team_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP then_AV0 supplemented_VVD the_AT0 project_NN1 work_NN1 with_PRP classroom_NN1 discussions_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 leadership_NN1 principles_NN2 they_PNP were_VBD discovering_VVG and_CJC applying_VVG ._SENT 
This_DT0 real-world_AJ0 approach_NN1 to_PRP leadership_NN1 development_NN1 ,_PUN often_AV0 used_VVN in_PRP big_AJ0 companies_NN2 ,_PUN is_VBZ less_AV0 common_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 middle_AJ0 market_NN1 but_CJC ,_PUN ironically_AV0 ,_PUN more_AV0 valuable_AJ0 there_AV0 ,_PUN because_CJS middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 rarely_AV0 have_VHB "_PUQ reserve_AJ0 "_PUQ management_NN1 capacity_NN1 to_TO0 take_VVI on_PRP new_AJ0 initiatives_NN2 —_PUN everybody_PNI has_VHZ a_AT0 day_NN1 job_NN1 ._SENT Smartly_AV0 designed_VVN leadership_NN1 development_NN1 programs_NN2 can_VM0 actually_AV0 create_VVI this_DT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF capacity_NN1 ,_PUN building_VVG an_AT0 institutional_AJ0 capability_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 time_NN1 that_CJT it_PNP builds_VVZ individual_AJ0 skill_NN1 ._SENT 
Ensure_VVB that_CJT students_NN2 win_VVB ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT With_PRP flatter_AJC hierarchies_NN2 and_CJC leaner_AJC structures_NN2 ,_PUN middle-market_AJ0 companies_NN2 have_VHB fewer_DT0 promotions_NN2 to_TO0 hand_VVI out_AVP than_CJS big_AJ0 companies_NN2 do_VDB ,_PUN so_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ important_AJ0 to_TO0 connect_VVI a_AT0 leadership_NN1 development_NN1 program_NN1 to_PRP internal_AJ0 career_NN1 opportunities_NN2 ._SENT 
At_PRP the_AT0 retailer_NN1 ,_PUN growth_NN1 was_VBD so_AV0 fast_AJ0 and_CJC the_AT0 internal_AJ0 management_NN1 pipeline_NN1 so_AV0 inadequate_AJ0 that_CJT the_AT0 company_NN1 had_VHD to_TO0 look_VVI outside_AV0 for_PRP the_AT0 majority_NN1 of_PRF new_AJ0 managerial_AJ0 hires_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 leadership_NN1 development_NN1 program_NN1 reversed_VVD that_DT0 ._SENT 
