Polaris is expanding access to Development Dimensions International (DDI) leadership development through flexible online learning and instructor-led, in-person training.
The goal is simple: give RI manufacturers a practical, flexible way to develop stronger leaders at every level of their organization.
Rhode Island manufacturers are facing a critical workforce challenge. According to the Polaris MEP 2025 State of Manufacturing Report, more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders work in manufacturing, and approximately one-third of the manufacturing workforce is age 55 or older, creating an urgent need to develop the next generation of leaders.
At the same time, manufacturers nationwide are struggling to attract and retain talent. A recent Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study estimates the industry will need 3.8 million new workers by 2033, with as many as 1.9 million positions potentially going unfilled if workforce challenges are not addressed.
While technical expertise remains essential, effective leadership requires a different set of skills. Supervisors and managers must communicate clearly, coach employees, resolve conflict, build trust, and lead teams through change. Research from Gallup shows that managers account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement, making leadership one of the biggest drivers of workforce performance and retention.
Leadership development isn’t simply an HR initiative. It can be part of an organization’s strategy for strengthening its workforce and building long-term capability. Leadership has an impact far beyond the individual manager. Frontline supervisors and managers influence how employees experience the organization every day.
To help manufacturers address these challenges, Polaris MEP offers leadership development through Development Dimensions International (DDI). Designed specifically for real-world leadership situations, DDI helps leaders at every level strengthen skills such as:
- Building and Sustaining Trust
- Coaching and Developing Employees: Move People Forward
- Communication and Trust Building: Connect Through Conversations
- Delegating Effectively: Engage and Empower People
- Conflict Management
- Driving Change
- Engaging and Retaining Talent
- Setting Goals and Reviewing Results
- Leading in a Hybrid Workplace
- Leading Self: Turn Awareness into Impact
DDI supports emerging leaders, frontline supervisors, mid-level managers, and senior executives, helping companies build a sustainable leadership pipeline rather than relying on one-time training events.
The program also fits the realities of manufacturing. Through a blend of instructor-led training and flexible online learning, participants gain access to personalized learning pathways, short targeted modules, practice simulations, coaching resources, and more than 220 + leadership development tools.
Investing in leadership development is about more than training managers. It is a workforce strategy that helps manufacturers improve retention, strengthen succession planning, preserve institutional knowledge, and prepare future leaders to drive growth.
DDI’s approach emphasizes learning, practicing, applying, and reinforcing skills. DDI’s reported impact data shows that 90% of leaders apply new skills on the job, with a 40% lift in effective leadership behaviors and a 12% increase in employee retention.
DDI’s current frontline leadership data similarly reports an increase in average frontline leader effectiveness from 46% before development to 85% afterward, alongside 92% reporting that they applied new skills on the job.
And when manufacturers invest in stronger communication, better coaching, greater trust, more effective conflict resolution, and leaders who can guide people through change, they’re doing more than developing individual managers.
They’re building stronger teams—and a stronger organization for the future.
Interested in learning more? Contact Lisa Willis at lwillis@polaristeam.org to learn how DDI leadership development can support your organization’s workforce and long-term business goals.