Best practice graduate development programs develop graduates into leaders. Grad development programs that focus too heavily on ‘basic’ soft skills don’t cut it anymore. Why? Businesses want more bang for their buck and most graduates want a program that’s more advanced. This presentation was given at the annual national conference for the Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE) in November, 2010.

1. Developing Graduates in to Leaders
The next era of best practice
Josh Mackenzie
Managing Director
Development Beyond Learning
WEB: developmentbeyondlearning.com
BLOG: joshmackenzie.com.au
TWITTER: @joshuamack

5. “The next 5 years of your life will be shaped by
the books you read and the people you meet.”

7. 1) There is always a
different point of view.

8. The Inaugural AAGE
GREAT DEBATE!

9. Graduate training and
development programs are
REDUNDANT.

10. Affirmative Negative

11. The traditional corporate training
model doesn’t fit anymore.

12. When it comes to graduate development,
businesses want more bang for their buck
for less or equal budget.

13. Best practice graduate development
cannot equal big bucks.

14. Beyond the usual 10 months of basic
soft-skill programs,
graduates want something more advanced.

15. 4,271 graduates in 44 countries
“Millennials at Work” survey...
“Most highly valued employee benefit” was
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PricewaterhouseCoopers;
Millenials at Work: perspectives from a new generation
2008

16. “Young leaders who feel their organisation is
giving them opportunities to build their
talent and grow, are more likely to reward the
company with superior performance.”
A positive psychology approach to leadership by Jeremy McCarthy

17. In the AAGE’s 2010 Graduate Development and
Retention Survey, 1,754 graduate in Australia
were asked in what areas they wanted further
development.
Here were their top 10 answers:

18. 1. Technical Skills specific to my career: 45%
2. Business Knowledge: 45%
3. Industry and Business Knowledge: 40%
4. Influence and Negotiation Skills: 38%
5. Project Management: 34%
6. Analytical Skills: 33%
7. People Management: 31%
8. Relationship Building: 26%
9. Knowledge of Business Etiquette: 24%
10. Conflict Resolution: 24%

19. 1. Technical Skills specific to my career: 45%
2. Business Knowledge: 45%
3. Industry and Business Knowledge: 40%
4. Influence and Negotiation Skills: 38%
5. Project Management: 34%
6. Analytical Skills: 33%
7. People Management: 31%
8. Relationship Building: 26%
9. Knowledge of Business Etiquette: 24%
10. Conflict Resolution: 24%

20. What is the real reason for running your
graduate program?
Is it to resource entry level roles with quality
young people?
Is it to build a pool of future leaders?

21. 2010
IBM Global Research Project:
1,500 CEO’s in 60 countries and 33 industries
were interviewed to uncover
“The most important leadership qualities over
the next five years”

23. 2) Leadership is
not what I thought.

24. 7 important leadership behaviours
graduates should learn, quickly. . .
1) Lead yourself exceptionally well
2) Lighten your leader’s load
3) Be willing to do what others won’t
4) Do more than complete tasks - lead them!
5) Invest in relational chemistry
6) Be prepared every time you take your leaders time
7) Know when to push and when to back off
8) Become a go-to player
9) Be better tomorrow than you are today

27. Example 12 Month Graduate Leadership Program
2 day
Workshop
Development
Needs
Assessment
Monthly Online Vod-Cast
Group Coaching Call
Design Focus Group
Individual Coaching Program Mentoring Program
2 day
Experience/
workshop
Jan Feb March April May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2 day
Workshop
2 day
Workshop
2 day
Workshop
90 Day
Tailored Project
45 Day
Tailored Project
Supervisor’s
Masterclass
Round 1
Supervisor’s
Masterclass
Round 2

28. Training plus coaching increases
productivity by 88%. . .
According to one study training alone increased productivity by 22%.
When combined with coaching which included goal setting, practice,
feedback, supervisory involvement and public presentation
transfer increased to 88%.
Olivero paper, 1997.

29. Best practice graduate development
cannot equal big bucks.
We need alternatives and options that are
cost effective and teach basic skills, fast.

30. A very special
Announcement!

33. Available for delivery March 2011

34. PLUS

35. Networking for Graduates - 8 short videos, quizzes and worksheets
Every graduate will receive:
4 x online support modules!
Accessed online through
www.developmentbeyondlearning.com
Building Personal Brand for Graduates - 7 short videos, quizzes and
Top 10 Tips for Graduates - 10 short videos, quizzes and worksheets
Giving and Receiving Feedback for Graduates - 7 short videos, quizzes and worksheets

36. Ongoing Support
DBL’s Online Social Learning Platform

37. Ongoing Support
DBL’s Online Social Learning Platform

38. Ongoing Support

39. Attracting
The Right
Graduates
Retaining
The Right
People
Developing
Future Leaders
Engagement Dynamics.

40. Attracting
The Right Graduates
Retaining
The Right People
Developing
Future Leaders
Dynamic
Engagement.

41. 3) We need to get the basic skills out of the
way, fast, so you can help your young people
find their passion - with the leadership skills
to light it in your organisation . . .
That’s the key to developing graduates
in to leaders.