What’s in a Name? GILD by the Letters

In the 17 years since its inception, GILD has equipped, enabled, and empowered leaders to achieve real, personal growth. We use the acronym as shorthand because it’s fast to say and write, but the full name – Global Institute for Leadership Development^™ provides a true descriptor of the value of this event. With the 2013 institute less than a week away, we wanted to examine the individual words and their continuing relevance.

Global. Globalization means more than simply selling abroad to expand revenues or outsourcing functions to lower-cost regions. The truth is, every business today is global in some way. Even organizations whose offerings are geographically bound (such as restaurants or hospitals) are likely to serve an international community. This is important because effective leadership requires the ability to lead across languages, cultures, and time zones―to unite diverse groups and guide them toward a unified vision.

Institute. The definition of an institute, according to Merriam-Webster, is “an organization created for a particular purpose.” A formal organization is a valuable resource to both new and seasoned leaders alike. And focusing on the single purpose―leadership, in this case ―enables in-depth examination, guided by qualified experts, to provide meaningful insights and proven tools.

Leadership. This is what it’s all about. And leadership isn’t reserved for top of the org chart. Effective leadership throughout an organization’s hierarchy and functions can drive both strategic and tactical success.

Development. Is leadership an innate talent or a learned skill? Some people seem to be natural-born leaders, but just having the talent isn’t enough, it needs to be honed for maximum success. Even those who are struggling in a leadership role can benefit from training and tools. In both cases, it’s about development―an ongoing process to amplify strengths and apply solutions for improvement areas.

Even the homophone “guild” is meaningful. Merriam-Webster defines a guild as “an organized group of people who have joined together because they share the same job or interest.” And that’s exactly what GILD provides: an educational and networking forum for those interested in developing their leadership skills.

Are you planning to be at GILD? What does it mean for you? Use the comments section below to tell us what your leadership needs and goals are for the coming year.