As a leader, one of your most important roles is to help your team members grow and develop their skills and potential. But how do you do that effectively, without micromanaging, imposing your own agenda, or neglecting your own responsibilities? Here are some tips to help you foster a culture of learning and growth in your team.
The first step to help your team members grow is to know them well. What are their strengths, weaknesses, interests, goals, and motivations? How do they learn best? What are their challenges and opportunities? How do they fit into the team and the organization? By having regular conversations with your team members, you can gain insights into their individual needs and preferences, and tailor your support accordingly.
In order to get to know your team you have to be intentional about the conversations you’re having. Set focused time that is dedicated on learning about your team member. Ask questions and lead with curiosity. The less you speak and the more you listen, the more you will gather information that you can use to support your their growth. With that, focus in on what they get excited about, what they love to do. It may not be what they’re most proficient at doing. It may not even align with their current role. However, our strengths are the things that strengthen us. We’re most productive, innovative, and engaged when we’re doing work that makes us feel empowered. Once you discover what that is, tap into it and help them to truly grow.
This point cannot be understated. If you have not spent the time getting to know each and every member of your team, start with that. And, that means knowing more than just their job history and career aspirations. You need to understand who they are as an individual, professionally and personally. The last thing you want to do is set them up for growth that may move them in a positive direction in one area while having the opposite effect in another.
The second step to help your team members grow is to set clear and SMART goals for them. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting SMART goals, you can help your team members focus on what they need to achieve, how they will measure their progress, and when they will complete their tasks. You can also align their goals with the team and the organizational objectives, and show them how their work contributes to the bigger picture.
You will get much farther with their growth by having them create their own goals. Telling them the desired outcomes and having them create their own SMART goals to achieve the outcomes will create the buy in needed for them to achieve those goals. It also gives them a sense of process ownership and responsibility. Have them tie their personal goals into how they achieve the outcomes you require is a bonus for everyone involved.
The third step to help your team members grow is to provide feedback and coaching. Feedback is essential for learning and improvement, as it helps your team members identify their strengths and areas for development, and recognize their achievements and challenges. Coaching is a process of helping your team members find their own solutions, by asking open-ended questions, listening actively, and offering guidance and encouragement. By providing feedback and coaching, you can help your team members develop their skills, confidence, and autonomy.
The fourth step to help your team members grow is to encourage collaboration and peer learning. Collaboration is the act of working together to achieve a common goal, while peer learning is the act of learning from and with each other. By encouraging collaboration and peer learning, you can help your team members leverage their diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise, and create a supportive and stimulating learning environment.
The fifth step to help your team members grow is to offer opportunities and resources. Opportunities are the chances to apply, practice, or enhance their skills, such as taking on new projects, tasks, or roles, or participating in training, mentoring, or networking programs. Resources are the tools, materials, or information that can help them learn, such as books, articles, podcasts, videos, courses, or webinars. By offering opportunities and resources, you can help your team members expand their knowledge, broaden their horizons, and advance their careers.
The sixth and final step to help your team members grow is to model the way. This means that you demonstrate the behaviors, attitudes, and values that you want your team members to emulate, such as curiosity, openness, feedback-seeking, risk-taking, and continuous learning. By modeling the way, you can inspire your team members to follow your example, and show them that you are also committed to your own growth and development.