Never Stop Developing People

by Jeff Wolf

Practical strategies to grow your team, retain talent, and strengthen your organization. These lessons still matter 10 years after I first wrote them.

Time to read: 2 minutes

The success of your organization depends on the people who make it run. Yet too often, leaders overlook the single most important factor in keeping people engaged and growing: deliberate, ongoing development.

When my book, Seven Disciplines of a Leader, became an international best-seller 10 years ago, I emphasized this principle, and I continue to highlight its importance in my keynote speeches. Here’s what I wrote then that still applies to developing and retaining your team.

Develop People to Take on More Responsibility
Support and coach employees so they can build new skills and embrace new opportunities. Guide them to create their own development plans rather than doing it for them; ownership drives accountability and results.

Set Expectations
Be clear about what you expect from employees in terms of goals, behaviors, and outcomes. Encourage progress, celebrate successes, and maintain open communication. Ask open-ended questions to guide thinking and ownership, such as how a task works, what might happen if a particular approach is tried, what their next step is, and which tools they need. By combining clear expectations with thoughtful questions, employees learn to take ownership of their decisions and deliver results.

Stretch Beyond Current Capabilities
Assign challenges that push employees just past their comfort zone. Two-thirds of growth comes from hands-on experience; one-third from coaching and mentoring. The most valuable lessons come from making real decisions in real time.

Balance Expertise and New Experiences

Rotate employees thoughtfully to broaden skills without disrupting performance. Encourage them to deepen expertise while taking on stretch projects or cross-functional roles.

Provide Coaching and Feedback
Targeted feedback and structured development programs accelerate growth. Employees who receive regular guidance are more engaged, confident, and effective.

Identify and Develop Talent Early
Don’t wait for employees to reach senior roles. Early development strengthens your talent, creating a loyal, capable team that grows over time.

Inspire, Don’t Command
Motivate employees with a sense of purpose. When people understand why their growth matters, they push themselves further.

Make Development Part of the Culture
At top organizations, development is a way of life. Honest feedback, mentoring, and coaching are expected and valued. Leaders model growth and embed development into strategy and succession planning.

Bottom Line                                                                                                                      

Investing in people is the single most effective way to retain talent, strengthen leadership pipelines, and drive performance across your organization.

In Case You Missed Them
Revisit these practical insights to continue growing your team and strengthening your organization:

• The ABCs of Leadership: 3 Simple Principles for Leading with Impact
• 5 Leadership Skills Every High-Performing Leader Needs to Thrive
• 10 Keys to Building a High-Performing Team

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