If you’re in a senior management role or run your own business, you’ve probably thought a lot about how you can develop your own leadership skills. However, have you given much consideration to how you can help your team and project leaders build theirs? A big part of being in charge is training up those who work under you and having a good strategy in place for this will benefit both you and your company. Not sure where to begin? Here are four effective tactics that are sure to make a noticeable impact.

1. Give them opportunities to gain experience

In the business world, lots of people find learning by doing to be an extremely helpful method. As a manager, you can provide plenty of chances for your staff to gain experience in different areas to help them boost the various skills needed to be a good leader. For example, you could ask them to give a presentation during a staff meeting, conduct an induction for a new employee, or take the lead in a client workshop. One great aspect of this technique is that you can tailor it to each individual, giving them tasks that target their individual needs.

2. Bring in the professionals

If you have got a lot of staff members that you want to transform into leaders, or don’t have the time to dedicate to the project yourself, one very beneficial tactic is to outsource the job. By hiring a professional agency that handles areas such as Board governance and executive coaching, you can ensure that your business builds a team of managers who are truly exceptional. The investment is well worth it, and you might even pick up some new ideas and skills yourself!

3. Encourage them to network

Networking is a crucial skill for people in all industries and at all stages of their career, so try to get your management staff to attend as many key events as possible. This will enable them to forge connections that could help your company in the future, plus boost their confidence and improve their communication skills. All of this can help to transform staff into effective representatives for your business. Many people are nervous about networking, so try starting your employees off with smaller events or ones where there is no need for them to give a presentation themselves.

4. Set up a mentorship scheme

Although you can act as a mentor for staff yourself, many people find it helpful to work with someone who is not their direct superior because it avoids any possible conflict of interest. Likewise, others will have specific needs that you are unable to meet or experiences you are unable to relate to. For example, female members of staff working within a male-dominated industry such as engineering will generally benefit a lot from having a female mentor who understands the specific challenges they face. This is where setting up a dedicated mentorship scheme within your company can be a huge help. Not only does it benefit the mentees, but the mentors will also be boosting their leadership skills – talk about a win-win!