SLII®. Powering Inspired Leaders™

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Today’s challenges demand a situational approach to leadership

Leaders are under pressure. They’re managing change, leading hybrid teams, and navigating complex challenges—all while trying to keep people engaged and drive results.

But most leaders aren’t set up for success. Without a clear approach to leadership, they rely on a single style, even as the needs of their people evolve.

SLII® changes that. It gives leaders a proven, practical framework to adapt their leadership style based on the situation and the person. They build trust, improve performance, and help people reach their goals faster.

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The new SLII®, reimagined for today's leaders

Just released! The all-new SLII® is here. Faster, smarter, and built for today’s hybrid and high-velocity environment.

We’ve reimagined the world’s most-used leadership model with immersive design, real-world videos, and on-demand tech tools that empower leaders to adapt and coach instantly.

What's new in SLII:

  • Practice‑first learning: spend more time doing leadership (not memorizing theory)
  • Updated video scenarios: authentic, contemporary, and diverse environments in every module
  • SLII App + AI Chatbot support: real-time coaching tools that plug into day‑to‑day leadership interactions
  • Flexible delivery formats: choose from virtual, online, in‑person, one‑day, two‑day, or blended options
  • Sustainment built in: new post‑training modules and reinforcement tools to anchor leadership behavior long after workshop completion
Discover What’s New
SLII Model Diagram

Proven, time-tested leadership model

SLII is an easy-to-understand, practical framework that enables your managers to diagnose the development level of an employee for a task: D1 – Enthusiastic Beginner; D2 – Disillusioned Learner; D3 – Capable, but Cautious Contributor; and D4 – Self-Reliant Achiever. Managers then use the appropriate directive and supportive behaviors to help them succeed: S1 – Directing; S2 – Coaching; S3 – Supporting; and S4 – Delegating.

Our award-winning learning design, The SLII Experience™, incorporates Blanchard’s latest research and state-of-the-art design theory. This creates a learning experience that allows for quick mastery of the methodology and enables managers to help their direct reports soar to new professional heights.

Delivery Options to Meet Your Needs

With hundreds of certified facilitators around the world, we can deliver The SLII Experience™ to your managers in-person or virtually, or we can train your trainers to deliver the course through public or private Training for Trainers courses.

SLII can also be part of a learning journey or delivered in either a self-directed or a moderated online course, so your managers learn the methodology wherever they are and whenever they have time.

In-Person Instructor-led Courses

The SLII in-person learning experience is available in two options:

  1. TWO-DAY DESIGN: This is a 2-day, 8 hours per day curriculum that uses a three-phase learning path to ensure participants master the content and lead situationally. The live in-person training provides the fullest content and the richest opportunities to practice new behaviors.
  2. ONE-DAY DESIGN: This is an eight-hour more concentrated curriculum using the same three-phase learning path.

The three-phase learning path is:

LAUNCH—Participants complete engaging prework assignments, including an assessment, to expedite the learning and frame their thinking to real-world challenges.

LEARN and PRACTICE—Activities teach leaders the skills and language to lead situationally. Leaders develop their new skills and practice their SLII vocabulary in activities based on personal work challenges. They learn how to match their leadership style and practice SLII conversations. 

APPLY—Tools and resources accessible after the sessions help participants strengthen and sustain their skills in SLII.

Let us know if you'll need Continuing Education Units prior to starting your course! The Two-Day Design can earn you 16 SHRM PDCs, 16 NASBA CPEs, or 16 ATD Credit Hours. The One-Day Design can earn you 8 SHRM PDCs, 8 NASBA CPEs, or 8 ATD Credit Hours.

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Virtual Instructor-led Courses

Option 1: Five-Session Virtual (10 hours plus intersession assignments provide the fullest content and the richest opportunities to practice)

Option 2: Three-Session Virtual (6 hours plus intersession assigns for a more concentrated curriculum)

The virtual sessions, spread out over several days, offer learners an engaging experience that includes instruction, group activities, and opportunities to practice new skills.

  • LAUNCH—Participants frame their thinking prior to class with prework assignments and an assessment.
  • LEARN and PRACTICE—Activities teach leaders the skills and language to lead situationally. Leaders develop and practice their SLII vocabulary in activities based on personal work challenges.
  • APPLY—Tools and resources are accessible to strengthen and sustain their skills in SLII.

Let us know if you'll need Continuing Education Units prior to starting your course! Option 1 can earn you 10 SHRM PDCs, 10 NASBA CPEs, or 10 ATD Credit Hours. Option 2 can earn you 6 SHRM PDCs, 6 NASBA CPEs, or 6 ATD Credit Hours.

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SLII® Online has been fully refreshed with dynamic videos, interactive learning experiences, and modernized designs. Discover how it brings leadership concepts to life. Contact us for a demo.

Online Program

SLII Online is an on-demand, self-paced course that introduces managers to the core concepts of SLII and provides conceptual practice; optional debriefs are available for additional practice. The SLII Online program is a three-hour online course delivered in bite-sized modules ranging from one to 20 minutes, with optional debriefs that allow for collaboration and discussion for a blended learning experience. The fun interactive exercises include engaging activities, videos, games, stories, case studies, and online discussions.

Online Overview

SLII Overview is an on-demand, self-paced course that provides exposure to SLII and contains core content videos and the most important ideas. This 45-minute online overview gives learners an overview of the key concepts of SLII. Includes engaging micro-learning activities, videos, games, and worksheets.

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Blended Learning Experience

A flexible option for busy leaders, this format combines independent online learning with live practice for immediate application.

Includes:

       - 3-hour self-paced online course to explore the SLII concepts at your own pace
       - 2-hour virtual instructor-led practice lab to apply the model, build confidence, and get real-time feedback

Collaborative Online Course

A blend of asynchronous learning and live weekly sessions led by Blanchard expert facilitators and moderators, the SLII® Collaborative Online Experiences allow participants to learn from their colleagues and practice skills in a safe setting. Cohort-based classes take place over 5 weeks and blend self-directed learning on a state-of-the-art platform that inspires interactivity with discussions, exercises, reflection, and offline assignments.

SLII® Chatbot

The SLII Chatbot is your personal SLII companion that keeps you growing long after the training session ends. Each week, the chatbot sends you practical tips, tools, and reminders to help you build on your SLII skills and apply them confidently in your day-to-day leadership. It can answer your SLII questions powered with AI, offer encouragement, and even challenge you with fun, interactive games to strengthen your skills. Available on almost any mobile or desktop platform—from Teams and WhatsApp to Slack and Salesforce—the chatbot makes it easy and engaging to stay on top of your SLII game, wherever you are.

SLII® App

The SLII App is an exciting, on-the-go tool that helps you bring the SLII framework to life in real time. With the app, you can quickly assess a team member’s development level on specific goals and get immediate guidance on how to lead them effectively. The app’s interactive SLII model breaks down each development level and leadership style, and it includes tips for setting meaningful goals and having powerful one on one conversations. It’s like having an SLII expert at your fingertips—helping you adapt your approach and make an even greater impact on your team.

SLII® Training for Trainers

Our learning design—The SLII Experience™—uses game-changing techniques that immerse learners in SLII deeply and effectively. Our Training for Trainers program thoroughly prepares prospective SLII trainers with deep understanding of the concepts and skillsets of SLII so they feel confident, motivated, and prepared to roll out The SLII Experience in their organizations.

Trainers must complete The SLII Experience course (SLII Two-Day In-Person or SLII Five-Session Virtual) within 12 months prior to attending the Training for Trainers.

Award-winning SLII® Collaborative Online

The SLII® Collaborative Online course received a Bronze award in partnership with Intrepid by VitalSource. SLII® Collaborative Online is a five-week semi-synchronous, social learning experience that engages learners through interactive activities, discussion, exercises, reflection, and offline assignments. A Blanchard leadership expert will guide participants through facilitated practice and meaningful conversations with their cohort in weekly live virtual sessions. The spaced learning approach allows them to learn new content each week, practice their new skills with their peers and teams, and then refine their skills before the course concludes.

 

Extend your impact with the SLII Sustainment Series

Don’t let the power of SLII fade after the workshop. The SLII Sustainment Series helps leaders turn insight into habit, sustaining the behaviors that drive development, engagement, and performance.

This three-part, virtual series offers short, high-impact sessions designed specifically for SLII-trained leaders. Whether you’re onboarding new managers, fixing inconsistent application, or revitalizing SLII alumni, these modules make reinforcement easy, scalable, and effective.

Why Choose the SLII Sustainment Series?

  • Three 2-hour virtual sessions: Refreshing, Practicing, and Applying SLII
  • Designed exclusively for leaders who have already learned SLII
  • Facilitated by Blanchard or certified internal facilitators
  • Available as a full series or individual modules

Outcomes You Can Expect:

  • Boost SLII usage across teams
  • Lock in critical leadership behaviors
  • Equip managers to coach in real time
  • Build and sustain a consistent leadership language
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Great leaders build meaningful connections

Great leaders give their people what they need, when they need it. That means having authentic conversations that empower. Caring about their growth. Being their champion. Seeing their promise.

Leading situationally is a dramatic departure from management styles of the past. And it’s an approach that produces dramatically better returns than other management styles.

54%

of leaders use only one
leadership style, regardless of
the situation.

Which means
50%

of the time, leaders are using the wrong leadership style to meet the needs of their people.1

1 Blanchard internal data.

Give your leaders the tools to inspire and accelerate performance

The pace of change today is so disruptive that visionary leadership is a requirement. Managers need a leadership training program that helps them be agile, lead situationally, and empower their people to succeed.

Research Driven

SLII is based on 30+ years of research on leadership and work passion, incorporates the latest advances in neuroscience, and has evolved with the changing workplace.

Proven Results

Over 10,000 companies have used SLII to improve productivity, reduce turnover, and increase sales and profits.

Creates Inspiring Leaders

SLII satisfies the brain’s need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, creating a safe workplace where employees are free to problem-solve, innovate, and collaborate.

Universally Effective

SLII works for leaders globally regardless of industry, language, or job function. SLII teaches leaders to give their people the right direction or support at the right time.

SLII® Enables Leaders To Build Deeper Relationships

With more inspired leaders, morale and engagement will improve, team members will feel supported, employees will become more creative problem solvers, and company productivity will increase.

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Accelerate Development

SLII helps managers accelerate the development of their direct reports, from enthusiastic beginners to self-reliant achievers.

Speak a Common Language

When managers and team members speak the same language, misunderstandings, micromanaging, and frustration fade away.

Improve Retention

Leaders who match their style to the needs of their people improve morale, commitment, and engagement. Who would leave a job like that?

Unlock Creativity

Research shows that employees who feel supported by their manager are far more engaged—and that is the foundation of innovation.

Client Success Story

AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE

Measuring the Effectiveness of SLII® Training at Land O’ Lakes

Learn how Land O’ Lakes improved communication and performance of its sales force with leadership development.

Read Client Story

Ready to Get Started?

SLII® can be delivered face-to-face, virtually, online, or as a combination of learning modalities. Contact us today to learn more about how you can use SLII to empower your leaders to build meaningful connections that drive exponential impact.

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