Integrated leadership development

Purpose Leaders' capacity has become mission‐critical in many organizations today. However, this business challenge is a struggle for many. Part of the reason is that current approaches to building leadership capacity are failing to hit the mark, and many senior leaders have little confidence in their organization's leadership development programs. This article aims to examine how organizations can close the leadership gap in their organizations by implementing an integrated approach to leadership development. Design/methodology/approach The evolution of leadership development is discussed and a framework is presented to examine traditional approaches and consider their limitations. Findings The integrated‐solution approach to leadership development represents a more strategic, synergistic and sustainable way for organizations to build the leadership capacity they require to gain competitive advantage. The integrated solution is intense. It requires serious commitment on the part of organizations, their senior leaders and from HR. The process also is more complex. In the long‐term though, the integrated‐solution approach delivers greater value to organizations and ensures that their investment in leadership development is optimized. Originality/value The article presents practical and proven strategies to overcome the leadership gap in organizations today