How to innovate leadership development

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“Leaders today crave immersive experiences that equip them with the practical skills to navigate the complexities of their role,” is something I often hear from Learning and Development leaders.  

For nearly 30 years Pilotlight has developed thousands of leaders for some of the world’s most inspiring businesses. We do this through what we call the triple dividend: our participants (or Pilotlighters) help a charity with a strategic or operational challenge they face; the Pilotlighters upskill and reskill through giving this support and sharing their expertise; the Pilotlighters take these skills back to their professional roles, and because the experience works on real problems, they’re more able to apply what they’ve learnt, which then boosts productivity for their employer. In a recent report, Pro Bono Economics actually revealed that schemes such as those run by Pilotlight could deliver between £1.50 and £3.60 of benefits to business for every £1 spent. 

As this development happens through helping charities, Pilotlight brings a fresh, experiential, real-life angle to the corporate learning and development sector. However, it wasn’t until last year, when, after a period of research and development, we were able to pinpoint exactly what learning takes place, and we launched our learning framework.

Skills building through real-world challenges

As Learning and Leadership Development Manager at Pilotlight, I have led the rollout and implementation of the framework, which prioritises real-world learning, alongside peer learning and formal training using the 70:20:10 model. Over the last year we’ve piloted and launched programmes, as well as developing learning tools and resources to ensure our programmes are aligned to different needs. I’m pleased to share that due to the success of our various pilots, we have now integrated it throughout our programme suite.  

Skills Pilotlighters are reporting they have developed include: 

• The ability to adapt leadership styles 
• Displaying leadership mindsets and behaviours 
• Cross collaboration capabilities 
• Building a cohesive team in time-sensitive situations 
• Critical thinking and complex problem solving 

And the feedback on their experience is overwhelmingly positive. For example, one participant shared:  

Pilotlight provided a safe space for us to practice our skills without worrying too much about our personal brand. It was a phenomenal experience. We got to learn, challenge, investigate and all in a real-life setting. I've never experienced anything like it before.

Another participant halfway through their programme commented: 

Before starting the programme, I wasn’t sure what I could bring to the table and where I could add value. But I was quickly able to see how my different perspective can value add and advise on solutions that might not be immediately obvious to the charity.

And 100% of participants said they would recommend the programme to a colleague or another business. 

In just a year, our learning framework has seen us partnering with more businesses to develop their employees and we’ve have increased the number of charities who gain our support in the process.

Building a learning journey that makes a difference 

On a personal note, I believe the most transformative learning journeys are often grounded in humility. Through Pilotlight’s programmes, participants engage and learn from inspiring charity leaders. They see how dedication, coupled with a strong vision, mission and values can make a big difference. This, along with learning to be resourceful and nimble with limited resources, creates a sense of purpose and wellbeing that goes beyond just professional development.  

Participants benefit from increased: 

• Empathy and social responsibility: Leaders gain a deeper understanding of community needs and the power of collective impact 
• Communication and collaboration skills: Working alongside diverse teams and participants hones these crucial leadership skills 
• Motivation and engagement: Inspiring leaders through real-world problem-solving and social impact. 

And lastly, but maybe perhaps the most important one in my view — our programmes foster a culture of continuous learning, supporting future-proofing your organisation. By encouraging a growth mindset, we empower people to thrive and develop into better future leaders. 

If our programmes have piqued your interest and you’re looking to create a transformational, immersive learning experience for you employees get in touch.