Executives Favor Consultation Over Education

A new research study from Penn State University's Smeal College of Business indicates that executives prefer long-term consultation over conventional executive education courses.

Instead of traditional classroom training, executives are now found to seek "deep partner relationships that include assessment and consultation with education as a by-product."

• Executives are looking for long-term partners who will analyze their individual needs, work with them to develop custom solutions and offer ongoing counsel.

According to the research findings: "Successful executive education initiatives are focused on corporate strategy and the marketplace, driven by applied research, rooted in partnerships and measured by contributions to the growth and success of corporate clients."

BOTTOMLINE: This research, while not very encouraging for traditional corporate education initiatives, bodes very well for the trend toward long-term coaching and strategic advisory services - like those offered by Six Disciplines Leadership Centers.