SLII®. Powering Inspired Leaders™

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Discover the new SLII®—empowering leaders with tech-enhanced learning

Blanchard's refreshed SLII® is designed for today’s leaders, with four innovative learning designs that bring the essentials of leadership to life in a dynamic, technology-enhanced format. Now streamlined and easier to apply, SLII equips leaders to build critical skills faster and drive impact in real time. Offered in both in-person and virtual formats, the refreshed SLII meets the demand for flexible, high-impact learning experiences that keep pace with the evolving workplace.

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Empower every leader with a situational approach to leadership

SLII®, the most widely used leadership training program in the world, teaches leaders how to build meaningful connections with coworkers that create exponential impact. When this happens, employees are more productive and engaged. And their organizations excel.

SLII is far more than a powerful leadership training program. It delivers exceptional ROI across the enterprise.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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 can be added 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. Includes interactive exercises: fun, engaging activities include 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 35-minute online overview gives learners an overview of the key concepts of SLII. Includes engaging micro-learning activities, videos, games, and worksheets.

SLII® Challenge Simulation

An immersive, simulation-centric experience on Advantexe designed to reinforce, practice, and apply the SLII framework. Participants follow a series of simulated conversations, choosing the best response in each situation. Scenarios are scored against the defined best practice behavior for that specific scenario; learners receive both qualitative and quantitative feedback to illustrate the consequences of their choices.

Digital Assets

Digital Assets include flexible micro-activities — videos, interactions, and worksheets — that leaders can access in moments of need to support ongoing learning, performance support, reinforcement, and custom learning journeys.

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.

 

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.

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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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