Improve Employee Development by Starting with Yourself.

It’s not a secret that continued development is a defining factor of lasting success. There’s truth in the saying, “what got you here won’t get you there.” Too often, I find that we forget about developing ourselves and being honest with the growth opportunities that we face as leaders. This is why I focus on building a mindset of high-level situational awareness when working with others. Awareness is the foundation in which personal and professional development is built. Leaders often surround themselves with team members who have abilities and skills that compensate for their own weaknesses. That isn’t necessarily a problem, and I support the thought process to build teams with the best talent possible that maximize individual strengths and abilities. However, I will often push leaders to look at themselves and evaluate whether they’re setting the right example for their team members when it comes to their own growth areas. Leaders aren’t perfect–I know, shocker! The moment leaders find peace in imperfection is the moment when true development can take place. Here’s a condensed story about my imperfections and how recognizing them brought comfort and clarity so that I could become a better leader and person. It all started in 2016 when I began partnering with an organizational psychologist during a major company restructuring. Our goal was to aid in assessing current and incoming leaders who were crucial to the success of the reorg. This opportunity to partner with Dr. John Mlinarcik was one that defined my thought process about “development.” It also helped me develop an ability to influence others to drive awareness and clarity. Through awareness, employees can often guide their own growth. Here’s what I learned about myself while working with Dr. John: I’m a “Gregarian.” Gregarians are outgoing and appear adept at knowing what […]

Click here to view full article