How You Wish You Could Speak to Your Senior Leaders

One of the challenges that some learning and development (L&D) professionals deal with is getting executive attention and resources. Many senior leaders will tell you that one reason for this is a communication gap. Often, L&D professionals “come to the table” speaking the language of learning and development—not the language of the senior leader. It’s not a lack of ability, but rather a lack of experience in that environment. I believe more senior leaders would be open to funding learning and development initiatives if someone clearly articulated the value that the investment would bring to the organization.

What we need is better business acumen and experience making senior level decisions. That’s why the Central Indiana chapter of the American Society of Training and Development (CIASTD) is bringing BTS, a global leader in strategy alignment and execution, to Indianapolis! I’m excited that they’ll conduct a full-day simulation focused on seeing the business through the eyes of the leader. Participants will work in groups and run their own fictitious company to experience the thought process that senior leaders use. BTS has worked with companies such as Coca-Cola, Sony, AT&T, GE, GlaxoSmithKline, Proctor and Gamble, and Toyota.

If you have a role in your organization where you could benefit from thinking more like a senior leader, you cannot miss this session. If you’re wondering if you should attend and wondering how you could afford a day away from the office, I captured my thoughts on video to provide more insight. View the video here.

If you’re interested in learning more or registering, visit the CIASTD website. I hope to see you for this great learning opportunity, “Through the Eyes of a Leader: Strengthening Your Business Partnership Skills” on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Jennifer Rufatto is a consultant at FlashPoint. She focuses her consulting in the areas of workplace learning, leadership development, and strategic planning.