Leaders as Teachers

Most business professionals understand the value of connecting their top leaders to other established and high potential leaders in the organization. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a $6.5 billion medical technology company with 28,000 employees, believes its leaders should make this vital connection in a unique and highly effective way – through teaching. Leaders as Teachers chronicles BD’s 8-year journey to create and deploy a leadership development program that relies on all top leaders (even its CEO) to train other leaders. The initiative, led by author Edward Betof , BD’s vice president and chief learning officer, has produced dramatic results, including measurable business results, a stronger and more supportive learning environment, improved communications and strengthened organizational culture, a more adaptive and change-receptive leadership team, and direct cost savings for the organization.

In addition to its compelling story of change, Leaders as Teachers offers a roadmap for other organization wishing to implement and benefit from BD’s experience. This complete roadmap includes detailed advice on how to introduce the leaders as teachers program and advice on how to overcome resistance to change; how to select, recruit, and train new leaders for the program; and how to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully functioning program. The book provides all the necessary tools, including detailed plans, worksheets, exercises, complete sample training outlines, and extra materials that speed the transition to leaders as teachers and take full advantage of BD’s extensive experience. Dozens of sidebars throughout the book present the participation experiences of BD’s leaders at all levels, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and personal testimonials of those who have benefited from participation in the leaders as teacher program.