Co-Creating a Tailored Growth Program for High Potentials in the New World of Work

An international industry company faced the challenge of aligning the aspirations and capabilities of its high-potential employees with the evolving demands of the business and global context. QiLeader was engaged to co-create a leadership development program that empowered these individuals to shape their growth journey, ensuring future leadership success and organizational alignment.

Context & Challenges

As the global market evolved, an international industry company recognized the urgent need to nurture and develop its high-potential employees to secure its leadership pipeline.

Despite possessing abundant talent, the company struggled to align these individuals’ aspirations with the company’s strategic objectives and the demands of an ever-changing industry landscape.

The main goal was to empower high potentials to actively co-create their development journey while aligning their goals with the company’s long-term vision.

Objectives

The main goal was to empower high potentials to actively co-create their development journey while aligning their goals with the company’s long-term vision.

QiLeader Approach

QiLeader was entrusted with designing a groundbreaking leadership development program that focused on co-creation, putting participants at the center of their own learning journey. The program consisted of the following key components:

  • Initial Presentation: A session that introduced participants to the evolving world, the company’s vision, and encouraged them to reflect on their values and career aspirations.
  • Three Development Sprints: Structured around “Me, My Company, The World,” each sprint deepened participants’ understanding and leadership capabilities. The program included:
    • A 2-hour online kick-off session for refining needs and goals
    • A 2-day in-person workshop to create immersive learning experiences
    • Two online intervision sessions to embed learnings into participants’ professional practice
  • Iterative Process: The program was designed to evolve over time, continuously aligning with the growth of both the individuals and the organization.

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Results

The co-created approach led to significant, sustainable results:

  • Increased Engagement: Participants felt empowered, seeing their development journey align with both personal goals and organizational objectives.
  • Enhanced Innovative Thinking: High potentials contributed innovative ideas, strengthening their leadership capabilities and readiness to navigate change.
  • Leadership Readiness: The program cultivated individuals who were not just ready to take on leadership roles but were also equipped to drive change and lead in a dynamic, global environment.

The Bottom Line

The success of the co-created leadership program established a new standard for nurturing high-potential talent. By focusing on the unique needs of each participant and ensuring alignment with organizational goals, the program created a sustainable leadership pipeline. Participants emerged not only as future leaders but as change agents capable of leading in an ever-evolving global market. The company now boasts a leadership cadre deeply aligned with its values, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the future.

QiLeader’s program demonstrated the power of co-creation in leadership development, providing transformative experiences that fostered personal growth and organizational success.

Proven benefits of the QiLeader approach on results, profits, well-being, engagement and turnover

On top of reaching each company’s personalized goals, QiLeader also aims at rebooting leaders and their teams for more impact in fast & busy times, by deeply reprogramming their habits. Research among 500 respondents shows that a rebooted leader (i.e. a leader who adopted the 5 habits of fast & busy times, namely: Rhythm, Purpose, Growth Mindset, Resilience and Focus) shows significantly better results compared to a more traditional leader or employee. For instance, a rebooted QiLeader is 72% more motivated than a traditional leader or employee, experiencing less stress (by 59%) and a decreased workload (by 45%). The likelihood of this QiLeader looking for another job is also decreased by 50%.

The same research shows that rebooted leaders work on average 10% less than traditional leaders while having 47% more impact, impact being defined in terms of reaching one’s objectives.

Assessments taken by participants to QiLeader programs before and after the training show an increased adaptability to the fast & busy times, with an average progression of 28% across the 5 habits assessed in 3 to 4 months. Biggest improvements are visible in Mindset (moving from a fixed to growth mindset) and in Focus (From overwhelmed & operational to focused and strategic.

Decreased absenteeism

The cumulative effect of increased impact, energy and motivation, together with decreased workload and stress results in a significant drop in absenteeism. The QiLeader techniques applied by Murielle Machiels during her time as CEO of an educational publishing company resulted in a 50% decrease in absenteeism. QiLeader also relies on a number of testimonials from participants saying that they avoided burnout thanks to the principles learned through QiLeader courses.

In Belgium, absenteeism is estimated at 10% per year and research shows an average cost of absenteeism of 2.450€ per year per employee.

For a group of 20 leaders, the absenteeism cost would be approximately 49.000€.

Decreased employee turnover

Average employee turnover rate is 10% depending on your industry. The cost of replacing a leader varies between 50% and 213% of their annual salary cost. For a group of 20 leaders with an annual salary cost of 100.000€, the employee turnover cost would be at least 100.000€ (50% of the annual salary cost of 2 people). This cost includes loss in productivity, replacement costs, recruitment costs, onboarding costs… 

Our research shows that rebooted Qileaders are 50% less likely to look for another job. 

See this participant’s testimonial: “It was a crisis moment for me at that point, because I was choosing between ‘Do I stay in this company? Maybe I should go someplace else…’ or ‘Do I find a way to make myself more motivated? And doing the course remotivated me.” (full testimonial here: https://youtu.be/zwRw0h7DeW0).
In Belgium, absenteeism is estimated at 10% per year and research shows an average cost of absenteeism of 2.450€ per year per employee.

For a group of 20 leaders, the absenteeism cost would be approximately 49.000€.

The ROI of the program based on previous results & research (only taking into account absenteeism and retention)

The program costs:

30.000€ for 20 leaders

Estimated 50% reduction of absenteeism:

24.500€ lower costs

Estimated 50% reduction in employee turnover:

50.000€ lower costs

Estimated profit increase:

44.500€

Mindset-based training increases profits three times more than standard business training

A World Bank study, conducted in partnership with the National University of Singapore Business School and Leuphana University, revealed that mindset-based training increases profits with 30% while traditional business training increases profits with 11%. This study was conducted among 1,500 entrepreneurs divided into 3 groups. One group didn’t receive any training and served as base to compare the other two. One group received a business training and one group received a mindset-based training.

The cost of the mindset- based training was already repaid within the first year thanks to increased profits and is 3 times more profitable than a classic business training.

QiLeader is a mindset-based training and is more sustainable in the long-term as employees and leaders are better equipped to deal with change but also to whatever challenge they face. More traditional business trainings (focusing on hard skills only) get rapidly obsolete as techniques evolve rapidly in the market.

What we offer

Programs for busy leaders

Teams and organizations

Regenerative In-Company Program

A tailor-made program for teams and organizations who want to take the path to authentic transformation and success thanks to regenerative leadership habits.

  • Restores Focus and Productivity
  • Revitalizes Empowerment and Autonomy
  • Regenerates Employee Well-being
  • Strengthens Sustainable Leadership Skills

Team Leaders

Regenerative Leadership – Collective Shift

A unique program to drive collective transformation, empower resilient teams, and foster sustainable success. Designed for leaders ready to inspire adaptive, purpose-driven cultures in today’s fast-paced world.

  • Drive Collective Transformation and Engagement
  • Build Team Resilience and Agility
  • Foster Empowerment and Ownership
  • Create a Culture of Sustainable Performance

For Individual Leaders

Regenerative Leadership – Foundations

An unique blended program to become a regenerative leader, have more impact and reach your goals. Designed for busy leaders facing the challenges of these fast and busy times

  • Enhances Agility and Adaptability
  • Boosts Resilience and Work-Life Balance
  • Fosters Purpose-Driven Leadership
  • Cultivates a Growth Mindset

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