Group of a young business people discussing business plan in the office
No one is better when everything is stagnating. Development and growth are concepts that should carry any employee or any business into a fruitful future. Not everyone will walk through your door with a hunger for success and growth – particularly if their previous workplace didn’t have the same ambitions that yours does. You might need to encourage that development, and it’s relatively easy to do so.
- Train and Educate
We’re all aware that knowledge is power. The more knowledgeable an employee is, the more room for development that individual will have. If you can send your employees to school or special training programs, you’re equipping them to become more competent. Every productive training session they sit through will put new tools in their toolbox that they can use to build a better skillset.
- Show Them You Appreciate Them
Personal development is difficult when you don’t know what you’re working towards. It isn’t always easy to give your all every day and feel as though your efforts have gone unnoticed. By rewarding your employees or celebrating with them after they’ve accomplished something major, you are not only helping them realize the full weight of their accomplishments but also show great leadership skills. This just might be the motivation they need to keep growing.
- Empower Where You Can
Nothing will encourage personal development more than responsibility will. As a leader, it is your job to delegate tasks and measure performance, but those are only a few of the things you need to be able to do to succeed in business. It’s also your job to step back when an employee really has a handle on things. Look at where your employees shine. Are there certain decisions he or she can safely make without your approval? Place trust where trust is due.
- Show Them Opportunities
Think about areas of your employees’ professional lives that they have interest in, whether or not those areas are a part of their current job description. Are you aware of any networking events or classes that might help them further cultivate their interests? Send those resources their way. When you do so, you’re making yourself a healthy part of their growth.
- Teach Them the Path to Advancement
Where is there to go but up? Ambitious employees don’t want to work in the same position for the entirety of their stay with your company. If you want your employees to develop, show them what their development may yield. If you have opportunities for advancement, make sure they know what they need to do to be offered those opportunities. Show them that their effort is backed by reward.
- Encourage Personal Development
Personal and professional development go hand in hand. Your employees probably have personal ambitions they want to fulfill. If they’re able to do that, they will grow and develop as people. Some of that development will naturally come into play in the workplace. Make sure they’re using their vacation time. If possible, offer flexible scheduling that will allow them a better work-life balance.
- Keep Talking Progress
Performance reviews are daunting, but they’re vital. If you can’t sit down with your employees and tell them where they’re at, they won’t know where they should be going. A performance review is an opportunity to establish goals and create a plan. This paves the path to development, and it’s much easier to arrive at your destination when you have directions.
Great leaders will always want the best for their employees. Try to keep the development and success of your team in mind whenever you’re making a major workplace decision. Teams win, and they win even more when their leader is helping them become better players.
Author’s Bio:
With her experience in business administration and communications and a great interest in creating and expanding a successful business, Sarah Davies is currently writing for Open Colleges, experts in the field of education. Follow her on her Twitter @sarah_davies_au.
