What are the findings about People Development and Business Performance?

Gallup has discovered that one of the most important factors in creating a high-performance workplace is instilling a high-development culture: one that values the growth of individuals.

Organisations that have made a strategic investment in employee development, Gallup finds, report 11% greater profitability, are twice as likely to retain their employees and are more adaptable to change.

People Development pays back in business performance.

Source: Culture Amp

Also, McKinsey research found that companies that focus on their people’s performance are 4.2 times more likely to outperform their peers. 

DDI Global Leadership Forecast 2025

• Levels of trust in managers/leaders have plummeted; particularly at immediate line manager level rather than senior levels
• Leadership credibility is eroding, with trust in managers dropping from 46% to 29% since 2022.

However,

• Employees with managers who actively support their development are 11X more likely to trust their manager.
• Employees who receive feedback from their manager are 9X more likely to trust their manager.
• Employees with managers who are effective coaches are 9X more likely to trust their manager.

Pressure into Progress: Leaders Grow Through Stress Management

Leaders are navigating an increasingly complex professional landscape, and their approach to stress management reveals profound insights into their leadership philosophy. Their top three stress management strategies are:

• Self-reflection (74%)
• Open discussions (71%)
• Engaging with learning resources (46%)

Stress among leaders is surging, with 71% reporting a significant increase in their stress levels since stepping into their current role. This marks a sharp escalation from 63% in 2022 and signals a critical inflection point for leadership stability.

The primary catalyst for this escalating stress is a pervasive sense of time scarcity. Globally, only 30% of leaders feel they have sufficient time to execute their responsibilities with the depth and diligence required. Critically, there is a direct correlation between time perception and burnout: when leaders feel they have adequate time, their concerns about burnout decrease.

AI and people development:

AI is not just a technological shift—it fundamentally requires human-centred, empathetic leadership to guide its implementation and build confidence in its use.

Leaders who trust their senior leadership are 2.2X more likely to feel excited about using AI at work. Without this foundation of trust, organisations risk resistance to AI and a missed opportunity to maximise its impact.

Senior leaders who build trust are 2.8X less likely to encounter resistance to AI. But trust isn’t built through announcements—it’s cultivated through consistent, genuine dialogue that acknowledges the human impact of technological change.

Frontline leaders are 2.4X more likely to feel enthusiastic about AI’s potential when their senior executives work cohesively and present a united front.

Why is any of this important to you?

Your people are your biggest asset and probably the biggest variable. Are they working to their potential? Why not?

There are real outcomes to any improvements in this area such as:

• More Motivation
• Greater job satisfaction
• Improved results without working longer and harder
• Commensurate improvement in retention
• A more effective return on any training investment

How have you invested in your own development as a leader?

 When you start with yourself you put a marker in the ground that this is important to you and the success of the business.

You can then guide and encourage others in the organisation to take their development seriously.

You will bring about positive change in the way you all do business.

So, what can Mistral do for you?

We tailor a set of sessions with you, your senior leadership team and all leaders in your business to help develop the key skills of Effective Leaders: Listening, Self Awareness, Authentic/Vulnerable, Accountable, Open/Transparent, Team Player, Inspiring Communicator

We can:

• Diagnose the people performance issues that are holding back efficiency using interviews, focus groups and observation
• Run sessions or workshops on tools and techniques to enhance specific aspects of your leadership e.g. Self-awareness; Effective listening; Developing others (e.g. teaching basic coaching skills for managers); Leading meetings for maximum engagement and follow-through; Negotiation for clear contracting and establishing accountability; Practical and simple-to-use stress management techniques
• Coach individuals and groups to improve performance and efficiency by supporting and training them to tackle the performance issues they have in their teams and with individuals.

Delivery can be:

• Short stand-alone workshops as a series for small and larger groups
• Alongside in the work situation for individual and group support
• Off-site modules

For an informal chat or to arrange a no obligation discovery meeting please call:

07876 684161 or 07969 846411

Or complete our enquiry form below