Crafting continuing learning and development: a positive design tool for leadership development

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider leaders as continuing learning and development (L&D) crafters. Design/methodology/approach – To maximize leaders’ “self-awareness” and “learning agility”, this article addresses itself to positive, purposeful and planned self-development by means of continuing L&D crafting. Findings – Executing leader’s structured and personalized developmental portfolios produce both personal and organizational gains, as reported by participants in the global “Learning Entrepreneurs” research project. Practical implications – The article offers a “designy” tool that executives can use in the workplace and outside. Social implications – Apart from the fact that it seems highly practical to employ L&D crafting as a business leadership development method, one can extrapolate this idea, and recommend this technique to leaders outside of business. This may transform institutions at large into learning organizations. Originality/value – Rooted in design thinking and positive organizational studies, the article advances a “continuing developmental portfolio” made up of two components: a continuing executive development “Check-in” and “Design”. These together are a mechanism for natural and disciplined learning from opportunistic incidents.