So this morning I’ve had a chat with one of my staff as she was feeling a bit discombobulated after I’d booked her in for a training course. She was a bit nervous, immediately assuming if I wanted her to do some training then it must be because I don’t think she’s doing a good enough job…
It really made me reflect on how often people (especially women!) doubt themselves at work. Instead of seeing development opportunities as a compliment, we default to thinking, “Well what am I doing wrong?” when really, it should be, “Wow, someone believes in me enough to invest in my growth.”
And the truth is – she’s doing a brilliant job! It’s because she’s doing so well that I want to give her opportunities to grow and keep moving forward.
When you’re in a small team and you’re the only one in your role, it can feel isolating. There’s no natural mentor or peer to bounce off. So it’s my job to create that support by opening doors, sending people on courses, and giving them the tools to level up.
It reminded me of one of a quote I remembered reading right here on LinkedIn years ago
“Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”
The best people thrive when they feel stretched and supported, that’s where growth mindset comes in. The belief that everyone, no matter how good they already are, can keep learning, keep developing, and keep moving forward.
Every day is a school day and it’s our job as leaders to make sure our teams know that growth is a reward, not a reprimand.