How to Make a Leader

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, we're joined by Al Dea, founder of Edge of Work consulting and a respected voice in talent and leadership development. Al breaks down why true leadership success hinges on a human-centric approach focused on two essential drivers: viewing leaders as developers of people and building social capital within organizations.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a consultant, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Al shares practical insights on how day-to-day leadership actions directly impact talent development. He challenges the notion that employee growth belongs solely to HR and L&D departments, revealing the common mistakes leaders make when developing their teams and offering actionable strategies that extend beyond traditional training programs.

You'll discover:
  • Why developing your people is the highest-impact leadership investment
  • Practical ways to implement human-centric leadership principles
  • How to build and leverage social capital to enhance team performance
  • Effective development strategies that don't require formal training programs

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Al Dea
(01:13) The evolution of workplace dynamics
(07:10) Defining human-centric leadership in real terms
(09:41) Leaders as developers of people
(12:09) Building growth into your weekly workflow
(15:28) How HR and L&D scale development
(18:02) Why investing in people ultimately saves time
(20:23) Common mistakes leaders make when developing others
(25:02) How to build social capital (and why it matters)
(31:26) A leadership development program that built real connections
(34:35) How to measure development and social capital


To learn more about Al and his work, check out his Linkedin profile, his website, and his podcast.

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What is How to Make a Leader?

How to Make a Leader brings you the ideas and voices shaping the future of leadership. Host Hannah Beaver sits down with bold thinkers, builders, and changemakers across learning and leadership development to explore how great leaders are developed, through smart design, real-world experience, and the moments that matter. These are candid, curiosity-driven conversations crafted for L&D and leadership development professionals who want fresh insight, sharper thinking, and a smarter way to build leaders who thrive.
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