Cohort-based leadership development for high-potential employees: A model for programmatic design

Abstract

Leadership development is a top priority for many organizations and a critical driver of success. This qualitative case study research examined ways participation in a cohort-based LDP contributed to HiPo employee's leadership development for the purpose of talent management, including an examination of which programmatic components help promote participant growth. This study illustrates the importance of, and methods to support, better leadership development outcomes for HiPos to improve talent management efforts. This research utilized a method for qualitative analysis and was conducted using a constant comparative method, requiring new findings and interpretations be compared with those previously found during analysis. Data included end-of-program graduate evaluations, semi-structured interviews, and manager evaluation surveys. Findings support the importance of 360-feedback and peer coaching as part of HiPo employee development. Each of these simultaneously improves self-awareness, human capital, networking, and participant well-being; the resulting model provides an illustration of the relationships found.