Helping people utilize new skills they are learning is an essential skill for all leaders. In this episode, I'll examine four ways you can do this as a leader.
REFRAME
- Move people away from just task accomplishment and more towards skill mastery.
- There's a difference between having knowledge and being an strong contributor to an organization.
- Challenge people for practical experience.
- Challenge them to put what they are learning into action.
RECONNECT
- Engage people during regular development meetings (at least once a month – once a week is ideal).
- Discouragement and obstacles will happen – we need to provide coaching along the way.
- Give perspective by using encouragement and also reward progress (not just results).
- Challenge people to compare themselves with themselves.
RENEW
- Make things new again.
- You can't know everyone on January 1st – be ready to add in more, make changes, and adapt
- Add new challenges and opportunities throughout the year.
- Avoid people getting into extremes – either overwhelmed or underutilized.
- Especially watch out for underutilized. Overwhelmed is easy to stop – underutilized is often only recognized after a person decides they are leaving.
RETURN
- Help them determine how they can return value to the organization.
- What can they do to teach others?
- What can they do to teach you?
- What are new responsibilities that connect back to their long-term goals?
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