Creating Growth Opportunities
Growing Your Value by Growing Your Team
If you’re a leader, it might seem scary to lose your team to new opportunities, but you shouldn’t be afraid. If you lose someone, it may actually be a sign you’re doing your job right. Growing your team makes a better team full of more desirable employees. Sure, you might lose someone talented to another company, but if you help them grow, they’re more likely to stay in the organization and build a stronger unit. Plus, if you treat them well, there’s always a chance they might want to come back later.
Here are several ways to grow your team members:
1. Help Them Level Up
Don’t simply give your team tasks that you know they’ll be good at, give them new tasks to grow their weak areas too. Multi-talented team members are good team members.
2. Delegate
Delegate to your team so they have the opportunity to learn new skills, take on fresh challenges, and do things that aren’t skill adjacent. Delegating not only helps them grow, but gets stuff off your plate as well.
3. Let Them Lead a Small Project
Some of the best teams have multiple leaders and the best way to create new ones is by letting your employees lead small teams. Start with low-risk projects so they can get their feet under them. This will also give you a chance to sharpen your mentor skills.
4. Have Them Mentor Another Employee
Have them mentor a junior employee in an area they’re competent in. This will help both employees gain new skills at the same time. It’s a win/win!
5. Send Them to Conferences & Networking Events
Send them out into the world to learn new things and have them report back. People stagnate when they stay in the same place. Let them spread their wings outside of the company, not just inside of it.
At the end of the day, people need to grow, and the best leaders are the ones who create growth opportunities for their team members. You’ll create a better team, as well as more support and commitment for you and the organization. This means, when someone does leave the company (which is inevitable, by the way) they’ll tell their friends about you and you’ll widen your hiring pool. Plus, when you leave one day (which is also inevitable), you’ll have the right person to replace you.
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