Have you ever wondered if leadership courses have an impact on leader’s performance? Innovative Facilitation wanted to know if having time to practice extensively the new skills during the training would make a difference to the level of transfer to the job. Three months after leaders attended a three-day training program focused on communication and coaching, we surveyed both the leaders who participated and their direct reports to get some answers.

In May of 2006 we found that 100% of respondents (leaders who participated in our Leadership Program in January – March of 2006 ) responded that they were working on the quality of their communication including 91% who stated they have been having career-related meetings with their team members. Additionally, 100% of respondents rated strongly agree to agree that they have increased knowledge and skill to do their jobs and that their job performance has been enhanced by the learning gained during the leadership program.

In the above survey, direct reports of leaders who attended the leadership program (374 respondents) confirmed that their leaders were holding one-on-one meetings to discuss career aspirations (72%).  Despite massive changes in leadership structure, 53% of respondents stated they strongly agreed or agreed that the quality of communication of their leader had changed since their participation in the leadership program, while 48% strongly agreed or agreed that the quantity of communication had changed. Some of the comments about the change in communication included having more frank discussions, more open and honest communication, receiving more praise and recognition for good work, more emphasis on personal goals and career planning, more availability, more responsive, seeking more ideas and opinions of others and more face-to-face and over the phone communication.

Intentional Training Leads to Leadership Behaviour Changes
Innovative Facilitation’s Intentional Leadership Program has resulted in some positive leadership behaviour changes according to employees at a four-diamond resort who responded to a corporate-wide survey. The survey that asks employees to rank, year over year, their perceptions about management’s actions based on a seven-point scale, indicated large gains in the following areas post all leaders participating in the Intentional Leadership One Program:

•	an increase in leaders support of adjusting procedures due to team member suggestions (5.25 in Feb. ’04 increased to 6.0 by May ’05)
•	an increase in leaders support of team members taking initiative and trying new ideas (5.27 in Feb. ’04 increased to 6.0 by May ’05)
•	an increase in holding regular team meetings (4.45 in Feb. ’04 to 6.59 by May ’05)
•	an increase in awareness of team member challenges by the executive team (3.94 in Feb. ’04 to 5.8 by May ’05)

Unchaining Your Brain Really Works
Innovative Facilitation’s Unchain Your Brain Program has resulted in behaviour changes as indicated by an all employee survey which demonstrated that Innovation and Empowerment were perceived to have increased (according to a series of questions relating to specific behaviours) from a rating of 5.2/7 to 5.7/7 over a period of 10 months.