Not long ago, my X feed was buzzing with news about the newly appointed CEO of Nike, Elliot Hill, who began his journey at the company as an intern 32 years ago. His loyalty to a single company sparked conversations everywhere. Climbing the corporate ladder with regular promotions, Hill’s journey is impressive but rare in today’s world, where job-hopping and career-switching are the new norm. I’m not here to judge those who move on—after all, everyone’s chasing personal growth, fresh challenges, or a better paycheck. As people compared their own career paths with Hill’s LinkedIn profile, I understood the frustrations that surfaced online: where are the promotions, the learning opportunities, the recognition? It raises a bigger question for today’s companies and leaders: how are you treating your employees?
Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go couldn’t have come at a better time for me. First released in 2012, this third edition invites us to rethink how we approach career development. It reminds us that while employees are in charge of their own growth, managers play a big part in guiding and motivating them. This new edition offers fresh perspectives aligned with the current working environment, including a chapter on how to help remote and hybrid workers grow and advice on providing equal growth opportunities. It also emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in building strong relationships and encourages companies to view talent as a shared resource.
I was impressed by one standout sentence from the book: ‘Growing the business means growing people.’ It’s a powerful reminder. When you think about it, how often do business leaders, when given a platform, talk about developing their people? The truth is, no business thrives without the people behind it.
This book is a must-read for anyone in business, whether you run a small start-up or a large corporation. Investing in people isn’t just good for business; it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do. You never know how many lives you’ll impact by simply helping one person grow. With the right support, people can thrive where they are, and as a leader, your role is pivotal in creating that environment.
The book’s practical approach, including questionnaires and suggestion lists, makes it easy to apply its lessons in real-life scenarios. It’s well-organized, making the key ideas easy to find and digest. And the message is clear: it’s not just about hitting numbers; it’s about making a lasting impact on the people who make those numbers possible.
Summary
To grow your business, you need to grow your people. The key to helping employees pursue their career goals is guiding them through three essential areas: hindsight, foresight, and insight.
- Hindsight Hindsight is all about looking back. It’s the heart of career development, where employees reflect on where they’ve been, what they’ve loved, and the experiences that have shaped them. This backward glance helps spark new ideas, encourages connections, and opens up pathways to discovery. Understanding someone’s past is crucial to helping them find a direction for their future.
- Foresight Foresight shifts the focus forward, taking a broader view of the business landscape and the changes on the horizon. It’s about understanding what’s happening in the wider world—what’s shifting in the industry, how the business is evolving, and what those changes could mean. Employees are encouraged to report back on what they’ve learned, sparking discussions that deepen their understanding of the bigger picture and the potential impact on their roles.
- Insight Insight is where hindsight and foresight intersect. It’s the sweet spot where an employee’s personal journey aligns with the company’s needs and future opportunities. This is the space where you and your team members can brainstorm, identify possibilities, and map out practical steps for growth and development. Insight reveals a world of possibilities, highlighting how an employee’s unique strengths can meet organizational goals.
Growing the business means growing people.
Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Giulioni, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go
When hindsight and foresight come together, they reveal insights that open up countless development opportunities for employees. By guiding your team through this process, you’re not just supporting their growth—you’re laying the groundwork for the success of your entire business.
My Favorite Bits
Decade from now, people won’t remember that you hit your numbers, met all your milestones, or came in under budget. People will remember that you made them feel valued, valuable, and capable. That you saw something in them that they may not have noticed. You’ll be remembered for your care and attention, the opportunities you facilitated, and the confidence you enabled.
Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Giulioni, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go
A huge thank you to Berrett-Koehler Publishers for sending me a review copy of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go.
Author: Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Giulioni
Publication date: 24 September 2024
Number of pages: 185 pages
