6 Strategies for Navigating the Career Development Maze
Is it just me, or does the concept of “Career Development” stymie many people? If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. Employees often struggle to manage their careers, and managers grapple with how best to support them. (If you fall outside either or both of these camps, let me be the first this week to say, “Yay, you!”) When I’m working with managers, these questions frequently arise: These are all valid concerns. Let’s dive into some strategies and ideas to help you navigate the waters. 1. The Career Development Trifecta: A Three-Way Partnership Think of career development as a three-way partnership involving the employee, you (the manager), and the organization. This approach is most effective when it’s: Employee-driven – It’s ultimately up to the employee to identify and articulate where they want their career to go. Your job isn’t to figure this out for them. If they’re unsure, that’s okay! Your role is to partner with them and help them gain clarity. Manager-facilitated – As a manager, think of yourself as an air-traffic controller. Your job is to: Remember, you don’t need to have all the answers. Your primary task is to ask questions and guide them toward resources and opportunities. Company-supported – Most organizations have a vested interest in employee development. They often provide resources such as: Get familiar with what your company offers so you can direct your team members to these resources. 2. Redefine Career Development At its core, career development is about helping people grow. That’s it! This simple definition should take some pressure off. Your role is to: 3. Growth Isn’t Always Vertical Remember, “up” is not the only way to grow. Many employees are interested in learning and developing without necessarily seeking a promotion. Here are some alternative growth paths: 4. Look for Different Mediums to Help People Grow While providing information through articles, videos, blogs, trade publications, networking, and job shadowing is valuable, the real growth happens when employees apply newly acquired knowledge. To maximize learning: 5. Be Transparent Honesty is crucial in career development discussions, especially when addressing aspirations that may not align with current opportunities. When faced with such situations: 6. Ask for Help Remember, you don’t have to navigate career development alone. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to support an employee: Remember, career development is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. By consistently engaging with your team members about their growth and aspirations, you’re not just developing careers – you’re building trust, boosting motivation, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
