Power umbrellas: How they help individuals and organizations grow
OnTrack International Sara Good, Learning Design Consultant at Learning and Development Consultancy
Organizations that encourage growth in their employees create a productive and flourishing work environment, and they also have a strong bottom line.
How can HR help employees overcome obstacles to growth and develop as individuals? It means that for many it is about focusing on three key areas: connection, engagement, and growth.
The Growth Imperative
Human nature is to want to grow. Human nature is to grow. This is why a successful business should encourage people to stretch themselves and try new things.
The CIPD found that 25% of low-earners will remain in a position with a good career path, while this is also true for 51% of high-earners.
It has profound implications – a lower turnover rate, an increase in productivity and the retention and development of the personnel the organization has invested and nurtured. It is an inexpensive and effective strategy to empower individuals to be responsible for their own growth.
A safe environment is one that promotes psychological development. According to studies, people flourish in environments that encourage growth and they leave when leadership or management don’t support them.
It is not an extravagance to create an environment that encourages employees to grow and be happy. Modern businesses must have this. Employees who are happy and feel like they’re growing will be the best ambassadors for their company. They’ll help recruit new employees and expand the knowledge base of the organization.
Employees will need assistance to overcome these barriers. Many employees feel that they don’t have the time to reflect upon where they are and where they would like to be. Some employees may need assistance in fostering curiosity, which can shed light on new areas or paths for development.
Some employees will need to adopt a growth-oriented or flexible mindset where they realize they can improve their skills. Some employees are afraid of failure and will not try new things. Others may need assistance to build a diverse network.
The power umbrella
HR leaders need to help their employees apply the power umbrella – which includes connection, engagement, and growth – in order to overcome these barriers.
Developing connections
To help employees grow, it is important to build and expand connections with them and encourage curiosity.
HR leaders must help employees map their network. How can employees benefit from the connections they have?
HR executives can also help their employees build a more diverse network. Whom should people seek out in order to experience cultural, intellectual and experiential diversity?
Some employees need to be encouraged to speak up and to feel comfortable asking questions, challenging assumptions, and debating issues.
Mentoring can be a great way to help both mentors and mentees. Both mentors and mentees need to agree on the goals and purpose of this approach. What are the skills or issues they wish to address and how do they plan to achieve this?
Driving engagement
What would employees do if they had an hour free to do whatever they liked?
Engagement goes beyond developing new skills and becoming a better manager. This does not always mean completing more work-related activities or courses.
It is more important to use the time available to help your employees become better versions of themselves.
This often means prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. The importance of wellness is crucial for career development. HR leaders can encourage their employees to better understand themselves by using tools such as the wellness wheel, to better align their job with their values, priorities and interests. Such tools could reveal, for example, that an employee prioritizes financial security over all else. This may help put the search for a challenging new role in context.
It is important to note that, even though activities do not have to be career-focused for employees, they must still set themselves clear goals and take responsibility. If not, the time set aside to reflect could be used to procrastinate.
Encouraging growth
Growth is not linear, but rather a path of reflection and resilience.
To adopt a growth-mindset, individuals must take a step back, compare their current situation with their aspirations and engage in honest discussions about their goals.
This also includes the ability to move on from mistakes and setbacks. It doesn’t mean to ignore mistakes or issues, but rather to put things in perspective. What seems important today will often fade away in a few months.
The employees who are able to build a personal brand that is authentic and honest will often be successful. How do they live out their vision?
What organisations can do to help
HR leaders must model the behavior they wish to see. They should encourage a culture of learning where employees are encouraged, formal or informal, to explore new learning opportunities, courses, and programmes.
HR executives can also create an environment in which everyone is comfortable and free to grow without worrying about negative consequences. To enable employees to grow, it is important to have open and honest discussions and to explore new ideas without any fear of repercussions.
Businesses can gain a competitive advantage by addressing barriers to growth with the power umbrella, while also fostering a culture of engagement, connection and personal development.
The lesson for HR executives is simple: Encourage growth and you will reap the rewards in abundance.
The original version of this article How power umbrellas help individuals and organizations grow appeared first on Human Resources News.
