Paying It Forward Pays Back for Business Leaders

Developing Others Pays Off in Career Growth – And Reveals No Queen Bees, Catalyst Study Finds

What makes a leader effective? Sound decision-making, knowing how to manage people, taking charge, and inspiring others to achieve goals are a few of the qualities. But helping others develop their full potential is also an integral part of successful leadership. According to a new Catalyst report, it pays off not only for emerging talent but for those who invest time in cultivating them. And more women than men, it turns out, are helping others move up the ladder.

High-potential talent who were themselves mentored, coached, or sponsored to advance in their careers are more likely to “pay it forward” by developing the next generation of leaders, according to Leaders Pay It Forward, the latest report in Catalyst’s series that examines the career advancement of high-potentials throughout the world.

Women, the report finds, are even more likely than men to develop talent. 65% of women who received career development support are now developing new talent, compared to 56% of men. 73% of the women developing new talent are mentoring women, compared to only 30% of men. This finding shatters the oft-cited “Queen Bee” myth that women are reluctant to provide career support to other women and may even actively undermine each other.

Overall, the report finds that high-potentials who are paying it forward today recognize that others once took a risk on them and gave them their chance—and now it’s their turn.
Exracts from Catalyst Study: www.catalyst.org

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