Leadership training tips are more than just good ideas—they must create lasting change. In this episode, author and leadership coach Matt Tenney shares exactly how to turn knowledge into sustainable, team-wide behaviours. Matt, the CEO of The Generous Group and author of Serve to Be Great and The Mindfulness Edge, joins host Molly McGrath to explore what makes leadership training actually work.
Quote of the Show:
“If I’m a leader, and you don’t tell me how the training you’re putting me through relates to the goals that I’m excited about, then forget about it.”
Why Leadership Training Tips Often Fail
When organisations invest in leadership training, they often forget the most crucial part—the follow-up process. According to Matt, without a structure to transform knowledge into repeatable behaviours, training becomes a wasted opportunity.
Training isn’t about checking a box. It’s about creating lasting behaviour change that aligns with both individual and organisational goals.
Leadership Training Tips That Stick
The best leadership training tips are those that connect deeply with each leader’s unique goals. If your leadership program doesn’t align with what motivates your team, they won’t internalise the ideas or bring them back to the organisation.
Matt emphasises the importance of designing leadership development with real-world outcomes in mind, not just concepts.
One-on-One Meetings: Invest Time to Save Time
Let’s be honest—no one wants to schedule biweekly one-on-one meetings. But if your team isn’t talking regularly, you’ll spend more time rehiring than leading. Investing time upfront saves you energy, money, and morale down the line.
These check-ins are the foundation for problem-solving, and they create stronger leaders across every level of your firm.
Rethink Productivity: It’s Not Just About Numbers
For decades, we’ve been conditioned to prioritise numbers over relationships. But Matt challenges this thinking. True leadership prioritises strong, trust-based relationships, which ultimately lead to higher performance anyway.
The best leadership training tips help rewire that outdated mindset—and replace it with one rooted in human connection.
Build Feedback into Your Culture
Want to accelerate leadership growth? Build feedback into your everyday processes. Employee feedback is a priceless leadership tool that reveals where your processes and culture might be falling short.
Matt recommends exploring automated survey software that helps you gauge whether your team feels seen, supported, and successful.
Looking to boost your team’s performance with practical, lasting strategies? Check out our free resources at hiringandempowering.com for more expert tips on building empowered teams and next-level leadership.
You can also dive deeper into leadership training tips on our blogs, and don’t miss our weekly podcast episodes for fresh insights from the field.
Written by Molly Hall McGrath