Ask Our Expert gives you an opportunity to ask questions, get answers, and gain insights from our thought leaders on the latest trends in HR. We address a variety of strategic areas that impact employers and their employees around the world.

Nowadays, with the challenge on delivering more profitability and achieving revenue growth in the midst of a difficult economy, it is important to focus on developing a strong pipeline of leaders within the organization. To help us understand the importance of having an effective Leadership program, we’ve asked our expert, Selva Arrues-Blum, who specializes in Leadership, to share with us some basics steps on how to get started on designing a leadership development program. If you'd like to ask a question regarding Leadership or on any pressing human resources challenges you might be facing, email us, and we'll share responses to select questions on a regular basis.

Most Boards of Directors, top executives and investors, understand and acknowledge the importance of having a ready supply of qualified leaders. Hewitt Associates, a global HR consulting firm, has focused its attention on studying the characteristics of companies that excel in talent management and leadership development through our global Top Companies for Leaders study. Not surprisingly, we have found that the Top Companies have better financial performance when compared to their industry peers. However, many companies still struggle with managing their talent, and have fragmented processes for developing their future leaders.

Question: How do I know if my leadership strategies and practices clearly drive business performance?
Answer: Develop a comprehensive leadership strategy with detailed plans for assessing, selecting, developing, and rewarding leaders that tightly aligns with your organization’s business strategies. For example, a business growth strategy requires very different leadership skills activities than a business strategy centered on operational efficiency.

Question: Our organization has programs in place to develop leaders from within. How can I make sure these programs are effective in developing leaders who are ready, willing, and able to succeed in critical roles?
Answer: Conduct a data-driven review of your existing and up-and-coming leadership talent, identify your high potentials and critical talent, and cultivate them through differentiated development. Develop leaders in step with business needs through activities such as transparent feedback, high impact coaching, mentoring, and increased interaction with the executive leadership team.

For more information about the 2007 Top Companies for Leaders study, you can visit topcompaniesforleaders.com or hewitt.com

For more information about Hewitt Leadership Consulting please email us or contact our Miami office at 305-718-3400.

About Our Expert
Selva Arrues-Blum is a senior consultant on TOC in our Miami Office. She leads the Hewitt Leadership Consulting Practice and the Top Companies for Leaders Research in Latin America. She specializes in the design and implementation of leadership effectiveness and development and talent management program. She also focuses her consulting in employee and high potential engagement, performance management, and high performance workforce and strategic talent management.