Leadership Development Plan

Great leaders are developed, not discovered. This plan helps you systematically develop leadership skills in yourself and others.

Why Leadership Development Matters

With Intentional Development:

• Leadership skills improve over time
• Succession planning is easier
• Band has multiple leaders
• Resilience and sustainability
• Growth opportunities for members
• Stronger overall band

Without Development:

• Leadership gaps emerge
• Single point of failure
• Limited growth opportunities
• Succession crises
• Weaker band capacity
• Burnout of current leaders

Leadership Development Philosophy

Core Principles

1. Leadership is Learnable

• Not innate talent
• Skills can be developed
• Everyone has potential
• Growth takes time and practice

2. Development is Intentional

• Doesn't happen by accident
• Requires structured approach
• Needs feedback and reflection
• Takes commitment

3. Experience is the Best Teacher

• Learn by doing
• Stretch assignments
• Safe to fail
• Reflection is key

4. Development is Ongoing

• Never "done" developing
• Always room to grow
• Continuous improvement
• Lifelong journey

Leadership Development Plan Template

Personal Information

Name: _______________ Current Role: _______________ Date: _______________

Leadership Aspiration:

• Develop current leadership role
• Prepare for future leadership role
• Build specific leadership skills
• Other: _______________

Step 1: Self-Assessment

Current Leadership Strengths:

Leadership Development Areas:

Leadership Assessment Score: ___/500 (if completed)

Key Insights from Assessment:

Step 2: Development Goals

6-Month Leadership Goals:

Goal 1:

Why this matters:

Success looks like:

Goal 2:

Why this matters:

Success looks like:

Goal 3:

Why this matters:

Success looks like:

Step 3: Development Strategies

For each goal, identify development strategies:

Goal 1: Name

Learning Activities:

• Read: _______________
• Course/Training: _______________
• Podcast/Videos: _______________
• Other: _______________

Practice Opportunities:

• Lead: _______________
• Take on: _______________
• Volunteer for: _______________
• Practice: _______________

Feedback Sources:

• Ask _______________ for feedback on _______________
• Request observation of _______________
• Seek input on _______________

Reflection:

• Journal weekly about _______________
• Monthly review of _______________
• Quarterly assessment of _______________

Goal 2: Name

Learning Activities:

• Read: _______________
• Course/Training: _______________
• Podcast/Videos: _______________
• Other: _______________

Practice Opportunities:

• Lead: _______________
• Take on: _______________
• Volunteer for: _______________
• Practice: _______________

Feedback Sources:

• Ask _______________ for feedback on _______________
• Request observation of _______________
• Seek input on _______________

Reflection:

• Journal weekly about _______________
• Monthly review of _______________
• Quarterly assessment of _______________

Goal 3: Name

Learning Activities:

• Read: _______________
• Course/Training: _______________
• Podcast/Videos: _______________
• Other: _______________

Practice Opportunities:

• Lead: _______________
• Take on: _______________
• Volunteer for: _______________
• Practice: _______________

Feedback Sources:

• Ask _______________ for feedback on _______________
• Request observation of _______________
• Seek input on _______________

Reflection:

• Journal weekly about _______________
• Monthly review of _______________
• Quarterly assessment of _______________

Step 4: Support and Resources

Mentor/Coach:

• Name: _______________
• Role: _______________
• Meeting frequency: _______________
• Focus areas: _______________

Peer Support:

• Who: _______________
• How: _______________

Resources Needed:

• Books: _______________
• Courses: _______________
• Time: _______________
• Budget: _______________
• Other: _______________

Band Support:

• What I need from band: _______________
• Opportunities I'm seeking: _______________

Step 5: Timeline and Milestones

Month 1:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Month 2:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Month 3:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Month 4:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Month 5:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Month 6:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Step 6: Progress Tracking

Monthly Check-In Template:

Date: _______________

Progress on Goals:

• Goal 1: _______________
• Goal 2: _______________
• Goal 3: _______________

What's working:

What's challenging:

Adjustments needed:

Next month focus:

Leadership Development Activities

70-20-10 Model

70% - Learning Through Experience

• Stretch assignments
• New responsibilities
• Leading projects
• Problem-solving
• Real challenges

20% - Learning Through Others

• Mentorship
• Coaching
• Feedback
• Observation
• Peer learning

10% - Formal Learning

• Books and articles
• Courses and training
• Workshops
• Podcasts and videos

Stretch Assignments

What are stretch assignments?

• Opportunities slightly beyond current capability
• Require new skills or approaches
• Safe to fail
• Supported and coached
• Accelerate development

Examples for Band Context:

Communication:

• Lead a difficult conversation
• Facilitate a band meeting
• Present to venue/promoter
• Handle conflict situation

Decision-Making:

• Make a booking decision
• Choose setlist for important show
• Decide on band investment
• Navigate complex situation

People Development:

• Mentor new member
• Give feedback to peer
• Lead onboarding process
• Coach someone on skill

Vision & Strategy:

• Lead quarterly planning
• Develop marketing strategy
• Create 6-month roadmap
• Define band direction

Execution:

• Manage a project (recording, tour, etc.)
• Coordinate complex logistics
• Drive accountability
• Deliver results

Feedback and Reflection

Seeking Feedback:

After stretch assignments, ask:

• "What did I do well?"
• "What could I improve?"
• "What did you observe?"
• "What would you suggest?"

Regular feedback requests:

• Monthly from mentor
• Quarterly from band
• After significant events
• When trying new approaches

Reflection Questions:

Weekly:

• What leadership situations did I face?
• How did I handle them?
• What did I learn?
• What will I do differently?

Monthly:

• Progress on development goals?
• What's working/not working?
• What patterns am I noticing?
• What adjustments needed?

Quarterly:

• How have I grown?
• What evidence do I see?
• What's next?
• How do I feel about progress?

Developing Others

Identifying Potential Leaders

Look for:

• Takes initiative
• Influences others
• Solves problems
• Thinks beyond self
• Wants to grow
• Earns trust
• Delivers results
• Handles challenges well

Not necessarily:

• Most talented musician
• Most experienced
• Most vocal
• Most popular

Development Conversation

Script:

"I've noticed specific observations and I think you have leadership potential. I'd like to support your development as a leader in this band. Would you be interested in that?"

If yes:

• Discuss their aspirations
• Identify development areas
• Create development plan
• Provide opportunities
• Give feedback and support

Providing Opportunities

Start small:

• Lead one song
• Facilitate one discussion
• Manage one task
• Make one decision

Gradually increase:

• More responsibility
• More complexity
• More autonomy
• More visibility

Always:

• Provide support
• Give feedback
• Celebrate wins
• Learn from failures

Leadership Development Resources

Recommended Reading

Leadership Fundamentals:

• "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek
• "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni
• "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown

Decision-Making:

• "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
• "Decisive" by Chip and Dan Heath

Communication:

• "Crucial Conversations" by Patterson et al.
• "Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall Rosenberg

Emotional Intelligence:

• "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" by Travis Bradberry
• "Primal Leadership" by Daniel Goleman

Online Resources

Courses:

• LinkedIn Learning (leadership courses)
• Coursera (organizational leadership)
• MasterClass (leadership series)

Podcasts:

• "The Leadership Podcast"
• "HBR IdeaCast"
• "WorkLife with Adam Grant"

Websites:

• Harvard Business Review (hbr.org)
• Center for Creative Leadership (ccl.org)
• Mind Tools (mindtools.com)

6-Month Review

Date: _______________

Goal Achievement:

• Goal 1: Achieved In Progress Not Achieved
• Goal 2: Achieved In Progress Not Achieved
• Goal 3: Achieved In Progress Not Achieved

Evidence of Growth:

Feedback Received:

Key Learnings:

Surprises:

Next 6-Month Goals:

Adjustments to Approach:

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership is learnable - Anyone can develop these skills
2. Be intentional - Development requires structured approach
3. 70-20-10 model - Most learning comes from experience
4. Seek feedback - Essential for growth
5. Reflect regularly - Turn experience into learning
6. Start small - Build gradually
7. Be patient - Development takes time
8. Develop others - Multiply leadership capacity

Leadership development is an investment in your band's future. Start today and commit to the journey.