A well-thought-out leadership development program offers opportunities and clear guidance for your workers to enhance their abilities and grow their careers. With a wider skill set, they’ll have the tools they need to assist your business in moving forward. It’s a win-win scenario for both you along with your workers.
However, a development plan or program shouldn’t be designed in the nick of time. Follow these steps to ensure that your employees’ plans for professional development are on the right track. Follow this guide to know more.
Effective Career Development Plans
Step 1: Think about your goals for the business.
Before setting goals for your employee development program, ensure that you align your employee’s goals for their development with the requirements of your business. Take into consideration your long-term and short-term business objectives.
Do you need someone from your sales team to be a district manager? Do you require someone in accounting to know how to utilize and use new software?
You’ll be able to determine the needed abilities, know-how, skills, and knowledge to achieve your goals once you’ve identified them.
If, for instance, your business is growing rapidly, it may be necessary to hire more leaders. What qualifications do they require? Does any of your employees currently have the knowledge or the ability and the desire to develop the competencies needed for these roles?
The development of internal candidates to connect the current skills of employees and those of the future would be extremely beneficial for the business. Investments in employee development today will save costs and time in the long run regarding onboarding, recruiting, or training employees. In addition, creating an employee’s career path and showing the possibility of advancement and promotions can help you keep the best talent.
Step 2: Discuss the matter with your employees
Please don’t presume that you know your employees’ levels of expertise and career goals. Discuss with everyone on your team to know more about their professional goals.
Having your employees evaluate their work and discuss the challenges they face within their current roles is also advisable. Which areas are they experiencing the greatest difficulty in? Are they in need of some additional education, mentoring or an assignment that is challenging?
Certain employees have career goals, But they’re not sure what to do next or if the organization will be supportive of their plans. Others may not be aware that you can see their potential or need encouragement to grow in their career.
When you speak to employees, you can work together in determining what role your business could play in their goals and the opportunities you could offer them.
Step 3: Define the potential and the readiness
After you’ve provided leadership and management education, evaluate your employees, and bear in mind the difference between readiness and potential. For instance, Michael may have the potential to become a superstar manager, but he’s not yet ready to assume this job. The definition of readiness can vary, including desire, skill and experience. Michael might want to pursue the managerial job you have in mind for him but isn’t yet. He might be taking care of parents who are elderly or children and isn’t keen to travel.
Additionally, he may have the time and energy required for a new job. Or, he could need between two and three years in increasingly challenging assignments. Furthermore, this is the time to acquire the management skills needed in the new job.
Final Thoughts
Leaders often think of someone who excels at selling or manufacturing widgets (potential). They also assume they are great at managing the sales team or manufacturing widgets (readiness). Management and doing require different skills, and the employee is forced into employment. Furthermore to this, they aren’t prepared for the negative outcomes.
