The Growing Leadership Crisis: 5 Ways to Support Young Leaders

My dad left our home when I was 6 years old after several years of abuse and hardship. I saw him once more at age 8 when my mom surprised him with my sister and me at his front door – it was a surprise for all of us. I still can’t fully reconcile how a dad just leaves, but that is a blog for another time. What I became incredibly thankful for was the way that key leaders entered my life at times when I desperately needed them...

• My fifth-grade teacher Mr. Doug Henning with whom I am still in contact today

• The man that agreed to become my Big Brother (as a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program)

• Leaders, coaches, professors, and others in my story

I am incredibly grateful for their investment in my life, and it has truly been life-changing. This is the power of helping young leaders, and yet it is NOT happening in most organizations. Those who have led for extended periods now have the incredible opportunity to pour into those who are emerging as leaders. We have the opportunity to give them our successes and failures as the curriculum for their leadership journey. One colleague calls it: “Going to school tuition-free.”

It is estimated that 83% of organizations understand the importance of investing in leadership development at entry-level leadership roles. Yet, only 5% of organizations have done it.

5 Ways to Support Young Leaders

By supporting and guiding young leaders, we can:

1. Develop their leadership skills and abilities, which can lead to more effective and successful leadership in the future. This is going to be critical as the complexities of our culture continue to grow.

2. Encourage and inspire them to take on leadership roles and make a positive difference in their communities. Offering a word of encouragement and giving emerging leaders a voice in leadership remains key to creating deeper influence.

3. Foster diversity and representation in leadership positions since young leaders can bring new perspectives and ideas to the table. We have to be intentional about fostering these opportunities, and let’s face it, emerging leaders have some outstanding contributions to make right now.

4. Strengthen and build community relationships by involving a new generation in leadership and decision-making processes. This is an immediate invitation to emerging leaders that we want their voices now in the decision-making process.

5. Invest in the future by helping to create a pipeline of well-equipped and capable leaders who can drive progress and change in a positive direction.

I have heard some leaders talk about the pending leadership crisis due to the lack of leaders for the future. Here at The Center Consulting Group, we are fully committed to giving the next generation of leaders the opportunity to grow and learn right now. We offer two cohorts for leadership impact: ELI is a 5-day initiative for those 18-23, and Accelerate is a 3-day intensive for those 27-35 years old. If you are an emerging leader, we would love to talk to you about joining one of these cohorts. If you are not able to join us, we would encourage you to personally invite an emerging or next-gen leader you know to apply.

1. Send them the information about ELI or Accelerate by sharing the website links.

2. Offer to pay part of their fee (or all of it).

3. Help them find a way to be with us in one of these two cohorts.

4. Encourage them to build a strong leadership foundation now.

Through ELI and Accelerate, we have a goal of impacting 200 emerging and next-gen leaders over the next ten years who will step into their spheres of leadership impact and be well-prepared to meet the challenges in front of them. And someday, their decisions and leadership strength will be the stories that future emerging leaders tell.

“During ELI, I was able to discover what type of leader I am and how I work best. I was taught things that will impact the rest of my life and how I lead.” – ELI Participant

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ELI is a 5-day leadership development program where participants will examine traits and practices of effective leadership, assess their personal strengths and leadership style, and learn from leaders across professional fields. This selective program held in July is open to 10 students ages 18-23 that have a desire to lead and dream big. If ELI might be a good fit for you or a young leader in your life, you can learn more and apply here.

We also host Accelerate in June which is a 3-day leadership intensive designed for leaders in the growing stages of their leadership, generally between the ages of 27 to 35 years old. Accelerate provides three days of outstanding leadership principles as well as clarity on your leadership style and its impact on your organization. The capstone is an opportunity to complete an organizational-related project with the guidance of our consultants. You can learn more and apply here.

Billy Dunn is a Senior Consultant at The Center Consulting Group and has over 20 years of church and nonprofit leadership experience. He serves as the Character Coach for the Lehigh University Men’s Basketball team and the Director of Ministry Leadership for Word FM. Billy has assisted with the launch of a number of nonprofit organizations and has worked with organizations and ministries across the world. Billy has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and brings experience in the areas of leading change, leadership coaching, resource development, church growth planning, and strategic thinking and planning.