• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Great Leadership by Dan
  • Blog
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • About
  • eBook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Blog
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • About
  • eBook
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Blog
    • Popular
    • Recent
    • About
    • eBook
  • ×

    You are here Home » individual development plans

    10 “Off-the-Job” Leadership Development Opportunities

    Last updated on Oct 19, 2008 by Dan McCarthy · This post may contain affiliate links

    Life’s one long leadership development class.

    There are opportunities to develop as leaders all around us, inside and outside of our Monday – Friday, 8-5 existence.

    As you identify leadership capabilities you’d like to development, here is a list of 10 “off-the-job”, “non-work” experiences that you can incorporate into your individual development plan (IDP), along with the leadership lessons they can teach us:

    1. Coaching a team: developing others, teamwork, building and leading a team, motivation, performance management

    2. Parenting: coaching, development, patience, interpersonal skills, selflessness, stewardship

    3. Step-parenting: Dealing with inherited problems, taking over and owning a project that wasn’t your idea, solving problems and dealing with significant stakeholders, overcoming resistance to change

    4. Marriage (or being with a significant other): listening, patience, negotiation, collaboration

    5. Being an in-law or dealing with in-laws: dealing with diversity, collaboration, acceptance of cultural differences, building and maintaining positive relationships

    6. Managing a family: budgeting, financial planning, multi-tasking, planning and scheduling, resolving conflicts, setting priorities, resource utilization, leading change

    7. Leading a community organization: an opportunity to practice leadership and receive feedback in a less risky environment

    8. Planning a school or social event: project management, planning, budgeting, goal setting, building consensus, dealing with opposition

    9. Home improvement projects: learning from mistakes, planning, patience, reflection

    10. Joining a weight loss or exercise program: goal setting, motivation, discipline, reward and recognition

    Can you think of others? How else can we develop our leadership skills when we’re not being paid?

    « Is “Passion” a Reasonable Performance Expectation?
    What if Leaders Were Allowed to Design and Deliver Their Own Leadership Training Programs? »
    AFTER ENTRY

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    dan-mccarthy-great-leadership-by-dan

    About Dan

    Dan is an expert in leadership and management development. For over 20 years Dan has helped thousands of leaders and aspiring leaders improve their leadership capabilities. Read More

    ebook-dan-mccarthy

    Trending:

    • Top 12 Development Goals for Leaders
    • How to Write a Great Individual Development Plan (IDP)
    • 25 Great Leadership Development Quotes
    • The Performance and Potential Matrix (9 Box Model) – an Update

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Home
    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022

    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy