Being open about career goals and aspirations

When I talk to team members about career goals and aspirations, I make it clear that I’m here to support them in achieving their goals. I’m also up front in acknowledging that this may mean growing into a new role on the team, moving to a new role in the company, or even finding a new opportunity outside of the company. This last one usually gets me a raised eyebrow or a question along the lines of, “are you trying to get rid of me?” ?

You Bring the Agenda

Who sets the agenda for your regular one-on-one meetings, the leader or the team member? I very much believe it should be the team member; by extension, part of the leader’s job then is to be fiercely protective of that time and its purpose. It may feel awkward to adopt this format but, with time and practice, you’ll discover more about the people you work with.