In a previous blog we talked about Generation Y making the future leaders. While it holds true that this generation is far more advanced than its predecessor, it can’t be said with certainty that they will make excellent and effective learners.

In times of yore, heirs of kingdoms received intensive training that developed them into thoroughbred administrators. Right from childhood these skill enhancement exercises were blended in with their education, thus increasing their wealth of knowledge and the stealth of skills at the same time. The modern society, however, applies a democratic approach to the way of life. Thus leaders in all walks of life are chosen on the value they add to their particular field. This however is inconclusive for determining their leadership skills or quality.

Leadership skills incorporate various other elements to it. To be a true leader, one needs to be competent in team building and collaboration, needs to motivate your team as well as its members from time to time, all this while mentoring and guiding their team towards achieving its corporate goal. These qualities however are not inbuilt, nor are they ingrained during education years. Their advent requires specific targeted training. As renowned author Samuel Blumenfeld puts it, education is concerned with the development of the mind, of the intellect, while training deals with learning specific skills.

Learning and development organizations today offer an array of such trainings. The most effective programs, however, are those that incorporate simulation as a method to derive learning outcomes. These programs are fun based exercises that focus on themes of leadership, planning, communications, collaboration etc. and have proven to be entertaining, engaging and effective.

So if you are an organization standing at the threshold of the transition of leadership to Gen Y, you would benefit well from such programs. Thus, the tech-savvy Gen Y, while bringing new and individual identities to their leadership styles, would also be well versed in the tried and tested, old-school methodologies that help a leader pave the way for his organizations success.