3 Tips to Help Protégés Achieve Goals in Mentoring Programs

goals in mentoring programs

Does your company offer a mentoring program? If not, it should. The benefits of mentoring programs are vast and range from individual-focused benefits, such as improvement in critical job skills, to organizational-level  benefits, such as reduced employee turnover.

How To Interview Candidates That Will Own Their Career Development

interview career development

Updated: December 1st 2023 If you’ve ever hired an employee, whether you’re a recruiter or a hiring manager, you’ve probably experienced the challenge of finding qualified candidates who are willing to take ownership of their career development. You probably have not thought of the issue in this way, or even realized that you have this […]

SMART Goal Examples Part 2: Leadership Development Activities

leadership development activities

In my last post, I provided a few examples of SMART goals for developing competencies or “soft skills” (as opposed to technical skills). Samples were written for the common yet vague goals to “be a better communicator” and “improve leadership skills.” If you haven’t already done so, I recommend you read that post first before […]

SMART Goal Examples for Competency-Based Development

SMART goal examples

If you’re reading this blog you’re probably looking for SMART goal examples targeting a competency or “soft skill” for development in your IDP template (or perhaps helping a client to do so.)  When setting development goals, people have little trouble translating the tangible ones into SMART goals. “Increase revenue by X% within six months”….”Reduce customer […]

Performance Reviews: Are Adjectives Really Better Than Numerical Ratings?

performance reviews

The redefining of performance reviews and the feedback that goes along with them continue to challenge HR. Companies are continuing to drop or revamp their performance reviews. Some changes are more drastic than others. I recently found this SHRM article describing how some organizations are shifting their performance reviews to be adjective-based as a replacement […]

How to Use HR Tech to Create a Feedback Culture

feedback culture

We often get asked how the features our Fast Mirror platform help motivate people to give and accept feedback. We also get asked how it can be used to hold people accountable for providing feedback. Not just managers, but all levels of employees. They’re trying to create a “feedback culture” and often in the early stages […]

Let’s Take the F Out of Feedback – It’s Not Performance Management

feedback is not performance management

Recently I attended a session at a conference about feedback. I was looking forward to hearing material about feedback-related issues such as 360 assessment, the neuroscience associated with feedback, and examples of companies that have created a “feedback culture.” While these subjects were briefly mentioned, it didn’t take long for the audience Q&A to turn […]

How to Integrate Succession Planning with Development Planning

succession planning

If you work on your company’s succession planning program, raise your hand if any of the following statements sound familiar: “Our leaders are engaged in the succession planning process but not so much in the development planning that follows.” “The development plans of individuals in the succession plan are pretty weak.” “Leaders have a hard […]

Quarterly Check-In for Your Development Plan

development plan check in

Well it’s about the end of the quarter. Time to check in on your goals. And don’t forget about your development plan. Do you even know where it is? A quarterly check-in may sound stressful if your behind on your development plan or even your goals, but it will only get worse if you don’t do […]

I’ve Got My Development Plan Template – Now What Do I Write?

development plan template

After searching far and wide, or perhaps by asking HR or a colleague for help, you’ve obtained a development plan template because you realize it’s important for you to have your own development plan. You’re committed to work on your development and really looking forward to it. It’s all downhill from here.