When you manage a team, how well it performs often depends on how well you've trained and developed your people.
Individuals need ongoing training and development to help them become more effective, and to be able to take on bigger and more significant challenges. More than this, they need help learning new skills as the nature of their work – and of your organization – changes.
Too often, companies limit training and development to new hires and to people moving into new roles. This is a mistake, because ongoing training helps people adjust to changing job requirements. It also creates a pool of qualified and available people, who are ready to step into new roles as your organization needs them.
This process helps you develop a more effective, efficient, productive, and motivated workforce. Done properly, this will ensure that you achieve your objectives and improve your competitive position.
How Well Do You Develop Your People?
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Instructions
For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the "wrong direction." When you are finished, please click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test.
This quiz highlights five main factors related to developing people. These are:
- Understanding the needs of your organization and team.
- Leadership development.
- Training and career development.
- Managing knowledge.
- Coaching and mentoring your people.
Look at these categories in detail below, and review your answers to identify the areas where you are strong, and the areas where you could improve.
By analyzing your current performance and learning more about each area, you can ensure that you develop your people effectively.
Tip:
Mind Tools is a great vehicle for providing high quality management and leadership training!
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Training and Career Development
(Questions 2, 9, 12)
Tip:
The Skillbook Training for Non-Trainers will help you plan specific training interventions. For effective training delivery, see our article on 4MAT, which reviews different ways to deliver material, as well as the article on Gagne's Nine Levels of Learning, which provides a step-by-step framework for creating a great learning experience.
Key Points
Your commitment to training and developing your people is a major factor in determining the ongoing success of your team and organization.
By making a commitment to developing and training your team, you send a clear message that you care about your people, and that you're willing to support their growth and job satisfaction.
This helps you retain good people, and ensures that your organization has the skills it needs in the future.
Work often changes at a fast pace. When your people keep up with change – and succeed – it's good for them as well as your organization.
Note:
This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is just one of many that help you evaluate your abilities in a wide range of important career skills.
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