HOW LEADERSHIP TRAINING BOOSTS TEAM PRODUCTIVITY

 Well-trained leaders set clear expectations, foster collaboration, and navigate challenges with confidence, writes LINUS OKORIE

In soccer, some teams have star players yet fail to achi

eve significant wins for year. Take Liverpool FC, for example. Before Jurgen Klopp became the manager in 2015, the club struggled to meet its potential despite having talented players. However, under Klopp’s leadership, Liverpool transformed into European powerhouse once again, achieving remarkable results and reclaiming their former glory. The same principle applies in business. Just as a skilled coach can turn a group of talented individuals into a championship-winning team, trained leaders help unlock their teams’ full potential. Whether in sports or business, strong leadership is the catalyst that transforms aspirations into achievements.

Leadership training has become an indispensable strategy for enhancing team productivity in business and drive success. It is no longer reserved for senior executives; leadership development now permeates every level of an organization, transforming ordinary teams into high-performers. But how does leadership training accomplish this?

Maya Angelou famously said “When you know better, you do better”. This quote shows that learning and understanding, a principle that applies to every area of life—work, parenting, leadership, and beyond. Angelou believed in the power of education to create opportunities and drive improvement. By gaining new knowledge, individuals adjust their actions, make better decisions, and achieve greater outcomes. This same philosophy underscores the importance of leadership training: by equipping individuals with the right tools and insights, it enables them to lead more effectively and inspire their teams to achieve extraordinary results.

At its core, leadership training is about equipping individuals with the tools to inspire, guide, and empower their teams. According to a 2023 report by the Center for Creative Leadership, companies with robust leadership development programs see a 20% increase in overall team performance. Why? Because well-trained leaders understand how to set clear expectations, foster collaboration, and navigate challenges with confidence.

Leadership development is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Effective programs are tailored to address specific organizational needs, ensuring that leaders possess the skills necessary to drive their teams forward. Whether it’s honing communication strategies or mastering conflict resolution, these skills directly translate to smoother workflows and better outcomes.

Contrary to what many think, leadership training is not an expense but an investment with measurable returns. According to a study by Deloitte, for every dollar spent on leadership development, organizations see an average return of $4.50 in increased productivity. For example, Google invested in “Project Oxygen”, a leadership training tailored to managerial excellence, the tech giant saw a marked improvement in employee satisfaction, retention, and team output. Managers who underwent training reported higher effectiveness, and their teams consistently outperformed others.

Organizations that prioritize leadership training reap numerous benefits, including lower turnover rates, as employees are 32% more likely to remain with companies that invest in their development. Trained leaders foster an environment of innovation, encouraging teams to experiment, adapt, and embrace new ideas. Additionally, empowered employees under strong leadership deliver exceptional performance, which enhances customer satisfaction, builds loyalty, and drives increased revenue.

Improved employee performance directly enhances team productivity and significantly impacts an organization’s bottom line. This powerful synergy between leadership and productivity drives tangible business outcomes, including revenue growth. A Gallup study shows that organizations with engaged employees outperform competitors by 21% in profitability. Additionally, effective leadership enhances operational efficiency by helping teams focus on strategic priorities and eliminate redundancies. It also strengthens organizational resilience, enabling businesses to adapt more effectively to market shifts and achieve sustained success.

When Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft, he championed leadership training centered on fostering a growth mindset. By encouraging leaders to embrace curiosity, Microsoft’s culture shifted, resulting in increased innovation and a resurgence in market relevance. The company’s valuation soared from $300 billion in 2014 to over $2 trillion by 2023. DHL’s leadership development initiative focused on empowering frontline managers to enhance their decision-making and people-management skills. This program led to a 15% increase in operational efficiency and improved employee satisfaction scores across the board.

One of the primary advantages of leadership training is its ability to identify and bridge skills gaps that can impede team productivity and stifle innovation. These gaps, whether in technical expertise or interpersonal skills, are addressed through effective programs that assess current competencies using tools like performance reviews to highlight areas for improvement. Tailored training modules are then developed to equip leaders with the skills needed to overcome specific challenges. Companies also invest in specialized programs from verified institutions, such as the GOTNI Leadership Centre, to enhance leadership, communication, and other essential competences.

Furthermore, leadership training encourages cross-functional learning, enabling leaders to collaborate across departments, broaden their perspectives, and foster organizational unity. For example, a manufacturing company struggling with inconsistent project timelines introduced a leadership training program focused on project management and communication. Within six months, the company’s on-time delivery rate improved by 25%.

Choosing an effective leadership training program is essential to achieving meaningful outcomes. Organizations should ensure the program aligns with their specific challenges and strategic objectives, addressing both immediate and long-term goals. Programs that incorporate real-world scenarios resonate more with participants, offering practical, hands-on learning experiences rather than just theoretical concepts.

The training shouldn’t end once a program concludes; sustaining its impact requires cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. Organizations can support ongoing learning through workshops and mentorships to ensure skills remain sharp. Celebrating growth by recognizing and rewarding leaders who effectively apply their training boosts morale and sets a positive example for others, reinforcing the importance of leadership development.  

To ensure leadership training delivers measurable results, organizations must track its effectiveness using clear metrics. Employee engagement scores can reveal improvements in leadership practices, while team performance metrics, such as productivity and project completion rates, provide insights into operational efficiency. Retention rates serve as a barometer for job satisfaction and leadership effectiveness, with lower turnover reflecting a healthier work environment. Positive changes in customer feedback also highlight the impact of strong leadership on client interactions. For instance, a financial services firm tracked post-training performance and observed a 30% increase in client satisfaction scores within a year, demonstrating the tangible value of investing in leadership training.

Leadership training is a strategic lever that transforms good organizations to great. Whether you’re a startup or a Fortune 500 company, investing in leadership training is a proven path to higher team productivity and sustained success. As Peter Drucker aptly said, “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” Leadership training does exactly that—and more.

 Okorie MFR is a leadership development expert spanning 30 years in the research, teaching and coaching of leadership in Africa and across the world. He is the CEO of the GOTNI Leadership Centre