Development Opportunity or Busy Work? 3 Tests for Learning Leaders

Leaders everywhere are being asked to “make development part of the job.” It’s an attractive idea — after all, when learning is woven into the work, growth can happen organically without added costs or approvals. But as one Navy commander astutely pointed out in a recent workshop I led, this approach can also be misused, turning into little more than extra work under the guise of growth. With workloads already at unsustainable levels, leaders must guard against “growth-washing” and ensure that what they frame as development truly delivers.