LEADER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM (LDS)

Phuoc D. Nguyen

Velsor et al. (2010) proposed “Clearly a leader development system (LDS) needs to be closely linked to the organization’s performance management and succession management systems and to its strategic change initiatives. From these can be derived the goals and objectives of the leader development system.” (p. 33). The leadership team should establish the LDS criteria based on the goals and objectives of the leader development strategy, the leadership consultant based on approved LDS criteria to assess and diagnose current LDS aims to identify gaps in the LDS and identify the input including performance appraisal outcomes, succession plan, HR development plan, and HR strategy and establish the interaction between elements of the LDS.

Velsor et al. (2010) suggested “A mature LDS is multifaceted. Some elements of the system – be like development planning, formal feedback processes, and high-potential development jobs. Other elements are more short-lived, serving emergent needs and changes in organizational strategy.” (p. 57). They added to the LDS’s elements such as leader competency models, leadership metrics, forums for the regular review of leader effectiveness in the organization, leader development strategy, methods of development, the climate for development, leadership culture, performance management, and reward systems, and reflective questions for evaluating an LDS. However, Velsor et al. (2010) have not described the interaction between these elements in the LDS and established leadership KPIs to monitor and measure elements and LDS’s output. This leads to obstacles when practitioners want to apply Velsor et al.’s (2010) LDS. Additionally, Velsor et al.’s (2010) reflective questions for evaluating an LDS are too short and have not covered elements such as leadership metrics, leader development strategy, methods of development, the climate for development, leadership culture, etc. It is suggested that leaders develop evaluation questions to evaluate periodic LDS outcomes that cover all primary elements of the LDS.