For leaders who transitioned into new roles in 2020, there was a "big drop" in leadership skills training, formal assessments, and 360 feedback compared with early 2019 and before, according to the findings of a survey by Development Dimensions International. The company pored through responses from 15,787 leaders and 2,102 HR execs to compile the report.
The lack of support may be contributing to a "lost generation" of leaders, DDI said. To reduce stress and set transitioning leaders up to succeed, companies need to provide a clear picture of what success looks like, provide formal assessments that help leaders understand where they struggle and do well, provide eventual 360-degree feedback and provide leadership training, the report suggested. While companies may have put these needs on hold during the pandemic, they need to respond soon to prevent employees from burning out or quitting, DDI said.
The report also found that men are more likely to receive transition support than women. Specifically, men are 13% more likely to receive leadership skills training, 19% more likely to be formally assessed, and 22% more likely to be assigned a formal mentor — an oversight that can hold women back. "The number of promotions leaders receive is directly impacted by key developmental opportunities organizations offer their leaders," the report said.