Leadership development is a journey that never truly ends. And while that’s exciting, it can also feel incredibly daunting. The more you learn, the more you uncover what you still don’t know.
So if you’re considering leadership development for yourself or for members of your team, you’re probably wondering, how long does it actually take to become a great leader? Is it worth the effort, or will the process just stretch on forever?
At The Metiss Group, we’ve seen firsthand how leadership development mirrors the journey of world-class athletes. Even the most gifted athletes still need ongoing support from coaches, strategists, and mentors to refine their craft and achieve excellence. Leadership isn’t a one-and-done achievement, it’s a continuous process that adapts as you grow.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Whether you’re taking small steps or striving to become a Level 5 leader, we’ll provide actionable insights to keep you moving forward.
How long do leadership development programs usually take?
There are a variety of leadership development programs out there, but those that include practical application and feedback are typically at least 3-5 months long.
For reference, the programs within The Metiss Group’s Leadership Academy range from 3-12 months.
This is because participants need time to not only learn the new leadership practices, but also to put them into place and receive feedback from their coaches and peers.
How quickly will you begin to see results from a leadership development program?
Assuming the leader gets it, wants it, and has the capacity to learn it, then they should start seeing results within the first month of leadership development.
That’s because they go through a phase of self-discovery within the first month. Some programs have a dedicated self-discovery phase, which includes assessments for both the leader and their peers. The assessment results will help the leader establish a baseline of where they are in their leadership journey and which areas they should focus their improvement.
But even in programs that don’t have assessments, the leaders will learn more about themselves in that first month, which frequently teaches them things they didn’t expect.
And in addition to seeing results in the first month, leaders should expect to see continued growth throughout their program of choice.
How much time per week is required for leadership development?
Most people who are passionate about their leadership journey will commit about four hours per week to that journey.
This could be through reading books, attending Lunch & Learns or webinars, and following business thought leaders. This also includes time spent receiving feedback from coaches, leaders, and direct reports, and then time spent putting their feedback into place through practical application.
Introverts vs. extroverts in leadership development
Any new skill development happens fastest for those willing to try new things, accept feedback and course corrections, and then try again.
What we’ve found is people with an introverted personality style tend to spend more time studying before they’re willing to try something out.
For example, imagine an introvert understands the value of one-on-one meetings, but he wants to better understand his direct reports before launching into a new structure. He spends the next few weeks or months talking to his direct reports, learning their likes, dislikes, and different needs. Then, when he rolls out the new one-on-one structure, it’s incredibly successful.
However, be aware that some introverts will only enjoy the structured learning part of leadership development. In other words, they’ll want to keep reading more books and watching videos on the topic, but they’ll always be too scared to put those learnings into practice.
On the other hand, people with an extroverted personality style are typically quick to try something new. Their path to success has many more ups and downs. They’ll put something into practice, realize they’re bad at it, then hit the books again to see how to improve.
One challenge with extroverts is that they tend to give up too quickly if something goes wrong. They might think to themselves, “That didn’t go well. I must not be good at it. I’m never trying that again.”
To get an extrovert back on track, you must remind them that development is a journey, and it’s perfectly normal to not be great at something the first time you try it. Encourage them to listen to feedback and keep practicing.
What about crash course leadership programs?
Many leadership programs cram material into a few days or a few weeks. For example, Harvard University offers short-term leadership development programs that only last two to five days.
However, without practical application and feedback, it’s difficult to make the learning “sticky.”
In other words, as soon as you get back to the chaos of your desk, a lot of what you’ve learned goes out the window.
Unless it’s part of a greater leadership development strategy. Short courses and lunch and learn events are a great addition to a broader, months-long leadership development progression. Think of them as a refresher instead of a standalone strategy.
Next steps for your leadership development
At the end of the day, leadership development isn’t something you can easily give a deadline. It’s a journey, not a destination. Just like a world-class athlete, any great leader is constantly refining their skills and asking for feedback.
But in general, a leadership development program will take at least 3-5 months, and you can expect to start seeing results within the first month. This can be slower or faster depending on how quickly someone is willing to try something new and keep improving.
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the idea of becoming a great leader, especially when the road seems never-ending. But with the right programs, actionable feedback, and consistent effort, the rewards of growth are well worth the time invested.
Now that you understand how long leadership development takes, the next step is to learn how to make leadership development “sticky.”
