Welcome back! By far, strategically developing others is the best part of leadership. You’re not there just to help people meet production goals like robots on an assembly line. You’re there to help people grow. The best leaders I have ever known are as passionate about helping people evolve to the next level as they are about achieving results for the organization. Whether I know someone personally or professionally, it has always been one of my greatest joys to watch people grow into more of who God called them to be. That’s a critically important part of my purpose on this earth, and an area of enormous stewardship that God has entrusted to me. It is a sacred responsibility that I take extremely seriously.
When you’re a leader, you don’t want some haphazard plan for helping people develop skills. You want to be strategic about it. Keep the main thing you are there for the main thing you focus on. Never compromise meeting goals and fulfilling the mission for developmental activities. Use skills building opportunities as a supplement to what people are already doing, in a way that’s appropriate for each one of them. Match people’s skills and needs with the organization’s operational and cultural needs/gaps. This is a great way to shore up skills for those who are struggling, and is highly motivating for your high performers. It also breaks up the monotony for middle-of-the-pack workers, and might just throw struggling workers a lifeline that reengages them.
Make developmental activities a fun diversion from the norm for everyone. This is a wonderful way to help prepare people for promotion or greater opportunities in their outside lives. It is a highly strategic way to position people for success. It is a win-win for everyone. The organization and the employee both benefit from enhanced skills that add value in real time and in the future.
Until next time, I’ll be praying for you as you start thinking through how to strategically develop each member of your team, whether they are in your living room or the board room. 🙂
