If you are a young professional in a field such as law, accounting or surveying, you might think that your technical skills and expertise are enough to advance your career. However, the truth is that you also need leadership skills to succeed in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous market. This is what I call the “career development gap”.
I would argue that leadership skills are not just for senior executives or managers. In fact, I would argue that leadership skills are for anyone who wants to make a positive impact. By influencing others, and driving strategic plans through to delivery in your organization, you’re demonstrating leadership. Leadership skills include communicative, interpretive, affective, and perceptual skills. These enable you to enjoy effective, proactive and collaborative relationships with your peers, clients, and stakeholders.
Leadership research tells us …
Actually, according to research by the Center for Contemporary Leadership , leadership development enables organisations to do the following four things that drive sustained success:
- Improve bottom-line financial performance.
- Attract and retain talent.
- Drive strategy execution.
- Increase success in navigating change.
That’s great, you may be thinking, BUT … what if your organization does not have an in-house leadership development programme? Or if your boss does not see the value of investing in your personal and professional growth?
That’s where Future Leaders Breakfast® networking comes in. Future Leaders Breakfast® networking (FLB®) is a unique opportunity for young professionals like you to network with other like-minded individuals over an informal breakfast.
So far, so standard, you may be thinking. What’s the USP?
What makes FLB® unique is that they focus on supporting you to grow your career. Most networking requires you to know some sports trivia or be prepared to discuss yet another aspect of the weather. That’s not the FLB® way. With us, you get to participate in themed discussions that feature key leadership topics. Through your networking conversations, you will also learn and practice leadership skills such as time management, giving feedback, people reading, and handling your inner critic. If truth be told, these are the skills that help you fill the career development gap faster than exams and post-nominal letters.
Future Leaders Breakfast® networking is not just another networking event. It is a fun and business-focused set of events that will help you grow as a leader and as a person. You will gain insights from experts and peers, share best practices and challenges, and build relationships that will last beyond the breakfast table.
Not only this, but FLB® networking is beneficial for your boss and your organization. By sending you to this event, they will show that they care about your development and well-being. They will also benefit from having a more confident, competent, and connected employee who can contribute to the organisation’s goals and vision. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
So what are you waiting for? Here’s your chance to do something about that career development gap you’re facing. Join Future Leaders Breakfast® networking today and discover the benefits of leadership development for yourself and your career.
Your next opportunity is 13 June for FLB® Portsmouth (in collaboration with University of Portsmouth and Blake Morgan). Please book your ticket and come to find out about the FLB® idea, leadership … and yourself. You’ll be so pleased you did.