Four Stages of People Development

People development is crucial to the success of any organization. People are an organization's greatest asset and therefore their development should be given a priority. There are four key steps that a leader can use in developing the people around her.

1. Stimulate Development

Leaders are like gardeners. A gardener takes a seed, plants it in good soil, nurtures the young plant with water and/or fertilizer and takes care of it into its maturity. The first requirement in stimulating development in people is being able to discern what their gifts and talents are. A person’s gifts and talents are the seed of his or her potential. Employees or followers need to be placed in environments where they will be most effective based on their talents. Personnel departments and leaders should specialize in being able to equip people with resources that build on their strengths. Only then can you begin to motivate development in people.

2. Motivate Development

Good leaders find ways to motivate development in others. I have found that the easiest way to do this is by painting a picture of the future for your people. People want to be associated with success and when they see that you are headed towards greatness they will jump aboard. Lasting motivation comes when the people you lead buy into your leadership. One thing that many leaders miss is that people must first buy into the leader before they can buy into the leader’s vision for the future. Find what can connect you and your people and that will be the glue for your continued motivation of them.

3. Encourage Development

When I was in college I read a quote that I have come to really love and appreciate a lot. I can’t remember who gave us the quote (…might have been Socrates or Plato … or one of those profoundly wise sages of the 16th Century). The quote was, “Encouragement is the oxygen of the heart”. In terms of people development I’d say encouragement is the fuel of continued growth. Leaders encourage people by offering them incentives that induce a commitment to the growth process. Now, a pay check provides limited inducement for true growth. People need to see a bigger cause than just putting bread on the table. Are you encouraging your people? You’ve got to encourage people!

4. Celebrate Development

People need leaders that will celebrate good performance more often than they criticize or give feedback about shallow performance. Celebration means fun. When people are having fun, nothing hurts. Are you having fun with your people?