For-profit companies and non-profit institutions all struggle with the need to target and develop key individuals as future leaders. Successful development programs blend classroom or written materials with meaningful opportunities to apply the knowledge and readily access to experts and/or coaches. However, most skill development and executive education programs are crafted as one-time "events" and are typically presented out of the context of the work environment. As such, they fail to be followed with an application of the ideas and concepts for the benefit of the individual or the institution. These seminars and courses tend to be expensive – ranging from $300 to $3,500 per day plus travel, lodging and other out-of-pocket expenses for each participant. Their impact is difficult to measure and long-term impact is atypical. This approach rarely accomplishes the desired result and leaves any real leadership and management development to chance. Seminars also fail to create shared experiences among the future leadership which bonds them to each other and to the company. Other internal programs tend to be designed for the masses and fail to develop future leadership.

While an effective development effort should include some theory and analytical frameworks, the emphasis should be on applying the knowledge to solve the real challenges of the firm. The Real Time Strategy Applied Leadership Development Series is a semi-custom program which rigorously explores in depth a series of management topics using a case study, detailed discussion and question and answer sessions of how firms can use these concepts to manage certain types of business issues. It weaves together five elements:

This program provides a focused, professional, cost effective leadership development program quickly and with an exceptionally strong return on investment (ROI) compared to other courses or seminars currently available in the market.

The Real Time Strategy Applied Leadership Development Program is conducted as, or as part of, a management development program inside an organization. The year long program combines a leadership and management curriculum with a set of pre-determined, executive sponsored high value, strategic projects that the participants work on throughout the course. Throughout the year, several leadership and management topics relevant to the projects are covered. Once a month, case study readings selected for their relevance to the projects are reviewed and discussed in a classroom environment. Methods for application are reviewed then applied in the projects. The projects serve as living case-examples. Each month progress is reviewed and coaching is provided. By working together in small groups, the participants develop critical relationships which serve to strengthen their bonds to each other and to the firm.