Deloitte: Next-generation leaders critical

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

According to professional services firm Deloitte, the importance of depth of leadership in assisting organisations successfully navigate today’s challenging business conditions, is one of the key trends in Human Resources (HR).

Andy Peck, Deloitte Consulting Human Capital partner, believes many companies are being challenged to accelerate the development of their most promising leadership talent, in order to develop the next generation of leaders which will drive future growth.

“Leading organisations are now becoming clearer about the importance of nurturing high potential leaders. What distinguishes these leaders from the rest of the pack are their leadership attributes and the value can they provide to drive a company’s growth,” he says.

“Fast tracking the development of next-generation leaders requires an integrated approach as individual programs that are not coordinated often send mixed messages which can increase retention risks.”

In the global report, “Human Capital Trends 2012: Leap ahead”,  high-potential leaders are identified as being able to operate on a global scale, adapt quickly to change, and have the depth and breadth of skills and experience to work across industries.

The report identified five reasons driving the accelerated leadership development trend and these include aggressive growth targets in global and converging markets. Rapid expansion into new markets demands leadership that can handle the unknown and make change and innovation happen across diverse cultures and industries.