Developing Others Is Your Real Job

Many managers see themselves as the ultimate problem solvers of their team, but true leadership isn't about doing everything yourself or just dictating tasks.

In this episode, Jess Pressland challenges the traditional top-down leadership style and explores why developing the people around you is an absolute necessity. Using a modern coaching approach, Jess breaks down the realistic ways people actually learn at work and outlines how to cultivate the confidence your team needs to thrive.

Key Takeaways

• The Leadership Choice: Leaders face a constant choice: do they solve every problem themselves, or do they intentionally develop the capacity of their team to think and problem-solve independently?
• The 70/20/10 Rule of Development: Real development isn't a checkbox on an annual appraisal. 70% of growth happens practically on the job, 20% comes from informal learning (podcasts, books, videos), and only 10% comes from structured training courses.
• Building a Personal Development Plan (PDP): A PDP shouldn't be a stagnant document filed away once a year. It must be a live, actively tracked baseline used to measure what skills are needed for an individual to succeed.
• Fostering Confidence and Psychological Safety: Confidence is built through practice and a safe environment. Leaders must allow their people the psychological safety to make mistakes, try new tasks, and gradually step into ownership.

Tactical Ways to Develop Your Team

• Shift from telling to asking: Use a coaching approach to draw solutions out of your team instead of handing them answers.
• Utilize micro-learning: Leverage shadowing, peer-buddying, webinars, and shared resources to hit the 20% informal learning mark.
• Manage the "Inner Voice": Help team members overcome imposter syndrome through structured practice and positive affirmations to align their mindset with reality.

Resource Mentioned

Download the accompanying workbook for this episode to put these insights into practice: thejpgroup.org/podcast