Ascensus Scaled Elite-Quality Training To Their First-Line and Emerging Leaders with LEADx
How Ascensus Scales Elite-Quality Training To Their First-Line And Emerging Leaders
First-line leaders lead about 80% of the workforce, making them critical to company success. Yet, when it comes to leadership development, addressing first-line leaders is where most companies fall short. The audience gets much bigger, and the strategies that worked for directors and VPs (i.e., executive coaches, boutique LMSs, and a high-touch approach) become unrealistic.
But the good news is that putting together a high-quality first-line leader program is feasible. You just have to adjust your approach and leverage the right tools. Ascensus stands as a prime example to follow.
Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings — providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for retirement, education, and healthcare.
Ascensus put together a distinct set of topics to suit each audience.
One common mistake when it comes to designing emerging and first-line leader programs is using the same topics for each. The challenge with this approach is that while current leaders may already have experience practicing some of the core people leadership skills and can immediately level up their skills by applying them on the job, emerging leaders don't. This makes it difficult to apply people leader skills since they don't yet have direct reports.
This is why it's important to design these programs a little bit differently. One advances already applied skills, while the other prepares you to transition into applying these skills. For this reason, Ascensus crafted two distinct curriculums.
Leaders Emerging at Ascensus Program (LEAP)
Foundations of Leadership (FOL) Program
The Key to Scaling? A Blended Approach of Live Workshops, Micro-learning, and Nudges
To activate their curriculum and drive behavior change, they leaned on a blend of tech and group coaching. Their approach consisted of three key components:
Micro-learning + nudges in the flow of work
"Ultimately, we were looking for a format that was scalable, cost-effective, meets learners where they are, and appeals to today's learners. Our associates are time-crunched. Micro-learning is really important, and learners want choices in how they engage with content — on-demand videos, virtual workshops, book summaries, and coaching plans." The behavioral nudges baked into the program are bite-sized, just in time, and act as a great point of reinforcement.
Group coaching in a 'flipped classroom' model
For three weeks, learners touch on core concepts that follow a monthly coaching plan and apply those learnings through micro-exercises. On week four, the cohort meets for a live group coaching session — facilitated by a seasoned expert — to wrap up the month's learning, share what they applied on the job, and surface challenges.
LiveCoach for on-demand support
For first-line leaders, Ascensus also enabled learners to message directly with an expert coach as needed. Since first-line leaders are already in real situations, this scalable, high-touch support means when a challenge or question comes up, they have help from a seasoned expert right then and there.
In combination, these components recreate the high-touch, high-attention approach that drives success in so many director-level+ programs.
Results: The Programs Engage Learners, Build Confidence, and Drive On-The-Job Application
What happens when you successfully scale a high-touch, personalized approach to your first-line? You get excellent results.
LEAP (Emerging Leaders)
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92%said their leadership confidence increased
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92%said they are applying what they learned
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87%usage of the platform
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82%of all coaching exercises and micro-learnings completed
FOL (First-Line Leaders)
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85%said their leadership confidence increased
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92%said they are applying what they learned
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75%usage of the platform
Qualitatively, their feedback shows they're accomplishing exactly what they wanted to achieve: on-the-job application.
“The most helpful tool in this program was the on-hand resources to learn at my own pace and explore based on what I was dealing with at the time. I gained a lot of confidence in my ability and feel that I am leaving this program with hands-on experience.” —LEAP participant
“The feedback session was helpful. As I was delivering and communicating constructive feedback and addressing an issue, I was able to use the tools I learned in the feedback session to help me get through the situation I was in.” —FOL participant
“Thank you for this amazing opportunity. I am so humbled and grateful to have been included, and I will use these tools throughout the rest of my life!” —LEAP participant
Innovative Tech + Strategy = Scale
Ascensus succeeded in scaling leadership development to their emerging and first-line leaders in a way that meets their workforce where they are today. This was achieved through the use of seasoned facilitators (group coaching) and strategic use of cutting-edge technology (micro-learning, nudges, and on-demand coaching). With all of these elements working together smoothly, Ascensus established a system of development that emphasized on-the-job application.