So you’re ready to invest in leadership development at your organization, but you’re not sure which program is the best fit. We get it: leadership development isn’t one-size-fits-all. And knowing which approach best serves your organization can feel daunting.
At The Metiss Group, we have condensed our decades of experience using behavioral science to grow leadership teams at organizations like yours. We’ve condensed these key leadership practices into two programs: The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ and The Leadership Essentials Playbook™.
In this article, we’ll explain the differences between these two programs and guide you toward the best fit for your goals. You’ll understand:
Differences in Outcomes in The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ vs. The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
Both programs are designed to develop leaders, but the focus and outcomes are very different.
Strategic Leadership Alignment™ takes a top-down, company-wide approach to align leadership with organizational goals.
The Leadership Essentials Playbook™, on the other hand, teaches the fundamental practices that all leaders need to succeed.
Strategic Leadership Alignment™
The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ develops leaders today who will propel your company forward tomorrow.
Think of this program as a way to prepare your leaders for where your company wants to go. Because what got you here won’t necessarily get you there.
For example, suppose your organization is planning to expand into the healthcare sector within the next 3-5 years. In that case, Strategic Leadership Alignment™ helps ensure your leadership team has the skills and mindset needed to navigate that transition.
This program identifies the practices and behaviors leaders will need in the future, and it provides a roadmap for growing into those roles. It’s about more than filling gaps, it’s about building a leadership team that can execute your strategic vision.
The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
On the other hand, The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ focuses on the fundamentals of effective leadership.
This program is ideal for leaders who need to sharpen their day-to-day skills, whether they’re new to leadership or looking for a refresher.
The program covers eight core practices:
Empower direct reports with proven delegation techniques
Give feedback that is frequent, timely, and specific to all employees
Prioritize personal development
Hold one-on-one meetings that focus on relationships
Communicate expectations with a job scorecard
Give timely performance reviews
Align individual goals with company goals
Make a plan for team succession
These essentials provide a strong foundation for any leader. But even senior leaders need a refresher course. In our almost 30 years of experience, we can’t recall any high-level executive who thought The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ was too remedial.
Differences in Time Commitment for Strategic Leadership Alignment™ vs. The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
Leadership development takes time. So understand no matter which path you choose, you’ll be committing to many months of development.
Strategic Leadership Alignment™
The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ takes 2-4 months for the executive team.
If you choose to extend the program through additional levels of leadership, plan for an additional 2 months per level. You won’t want to disrupt your day-to-day business operations, so we recommend taking a month or so to breathe between each level.
You can also extend the timeline for your most exceptional leaders with additional one-on-one coaching. For example, we once had a client go through Strategic Leadership, and they extended the monthly coaching for four and a half years. He later became the successor to the CEO.
It’s a clear example of how Strategic Leadership Alignment™ doesn’t just develop individual leaders. It also positions your organization for long-term success.
The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ takes 4-6 months. This fluctuates depending on whether participants engage in group sessions or individual coaching.
Unlike Strategic Leadership Alignment™, this program doesn’t require a phased rollout. However, many companies find it helpful to start with senior leadership — then, these leaders can set an example for their teams.
Differences in Cost for Strategic Leadership Alignment™ vs The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
So how much is all this going to cost, anyway? The answer: It depends.
Both programs offer a range of pricing options based on the number of participants.
Strategic Leadership Alignment™ Costs:
Executive level: $22,000–$40,000 per group
Subsequent organizational levels: $15,000–$20,000 per group
The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ Costs:
Individual: $5,000–$8,000 per individual
Group: Depends on how number of participants, but typically $3,000-6,000 per participant
The main factor influencing cost in both programs is number of participants. And depending on how many leaders you're developing, both programs can end up costing about the same.
What Both Leadership Programs Have in Common
Despite their differences, both programs share some key features.
Participants in both The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ and The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ engage in self-discovery through multi-science assessments. This helps leaders understand their strengths and opportunities for improvement, and it gives them a blueprint for how they can improve in their leadership development.
Both programs also incorporate the 70-20-10 model, which includes learning by doing (70%), feedback (20%), and formal training (10%).
And no matter which program you choose, you’ll receive tailored coaching from The Metiss Group’s behavior experts.
Which Leadership Development Program Is Right for Your Organization?
Choosing between these two programs depends on your company’s current needs and future goals.
Sometimes the decision isn’t linear. We’ve seen leaders who complete Strategic Leadership Alignment™ later benefit from revisiting the fundamentals through The Leadership Essentials Playbook™. Other clients who have started with The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ have decided to take it to the next level with The Strategic Leadership Alignment™.
Choose The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ If:
Your organization is heading in a new direction and needs leadership to align with that vision.
Your leadership team has varied training backgrounds and could benefit from cultural alignment.
Your leaders have already mastered the fundamentals and are ready for advanced development.
Choose The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ If:
Your leaders need a stronger grasp of core leadership practices.
You’re looking to develop leadership skills across a broad range of participants.
Your senior leaders could use a refresh on the basics to boost performance.
Final Thoughts on The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ vs. The Leadership Essentials Playbook™
Setting your organization up for success begins with choosing the right development program for your company’s key leaders.
The Strategic Leadership Alignment™ aligns leadership with organizational strategy, while The Leadership Essentials Playbook™ equips leaders with the fundamental skills they need for day-to-day success.
At The Metiss Group, we’re passionate about helping organizations build a better leadership team. Now that you understand the differences and benefits of both programs, the next step is to Schedule a Call with The Metiss Group to learn how to bring one (or both!) of these programs to your team.