How to Ensure Your Boss Supports Your Growth
During what will probably be a long working life you’ll likely experience many styles of management and corporate culture.
When I think about the companies and managers I’ve experienced there are only a couple that have actively helped me to grow as a person and had a philosophy of encouraging me to accept greater responsibility.
I don’t mean that they have just dumped more and more responsibility on me and hoped that I coped. That’s akin to throwing a person in the deep-end of the pool and hope they don’t sink.
I mean they looked at how they could help me grow in a supportive, no-fail way.
The companies and people that really had a big impact were those that knew how important it is for their people to develop emotional resilience, take on bigger challenges and be acknowledged when their hard work and perseverance delivered.
They always operated on the basis that I would never be thrown in the deep-end, hoping I wouldn’t sink. They took steps to ensure I succeeded and wouldn’t allow me to fail. That approach takes a special type of company and manager who values their people and knows that if their people grow so too will their company.
My experience of that kind of people management style was sadly an exception. The companies I worked at where the management style was to whip people into shape and to keep cracking the whip were the companies that had high staff turnover and where morale was marginal.
What’s your experience been with the companies and managers you’ve worked with?
Are you tolerating a workplace that has little or no interest in helping you develop and grow?
One of my regrets is that I tolerated poor management style too often during my working life, at times even tolerating bully managers because I was a new father with important responsibilities and so felt I had to just suck-it-up and stay put.
If you find yourself in a work environment where there is scant or even no effort to actively develop you and help your growth in skills then please think about whether it’s time for a change.
It’s a perfectly valid reason to find a new employer and career and when interviewing for a new role explain your motivation is to work in an environment where you’re encouraged to take on new responsibilities, where you’re supported to grow in skills and confidence.
“Life is short” is a well-worn cliche, however it’s so true and you are worthy of being seen as a valuable person who deserves more than just a monthly paycheck.
Talk to your boss and the HR people about your hopes for ongoing growth and development.
If they ignore you then you have the answer as to whether you continue to give them your incredibly valuable time.
While you’re contemplating where to spend your future, be proactive and use your own time to learn and evolve. Show that even if your company won’t, you will take steps to grow and develop your emotional strengths and skill capabilities.
Switching from an employer should never been done lightly. Just don’t hang around with a company that’s proven by its actions that you aren’t worthy of an ongoing investment in your personal development.
About the author:
Greg Twemlow is a Sydney-based Social Enterprise Founder | Startup Mentor | CEO | Writer | Speaker | Podcaster
