Survey Questions: Developing Others
Definition: Developing Others is the ability to intentionally grow employee capability by providing stretch assignments that build new skills and encouraging employees to take on responsibilities that expand their experience while offering the coaching, tools, and feedback needed for success. It involves collaborating with employees to clarify long‑term career goals, create structured 6‑ to 12‑month development plans, and offer cross‑training and shadowing opportunities that broaden their understanding of how the business operates. Developing Others also requires connecting employees with mentors and subject‑matter experts, recommending high‑value learning programs, giving timely developmental feedback, supporting networking and leadership opportunities, fostering a psychologically safe learning climate, and recognizing progress, effort, and meaningful improvements. Finally, it includes removing barriers to growth, modeling continual learning, promoting knowledge sharing, encouraging introspection, and conducting regular assessments to identify development needs and future opportunities.
Stretch AssignmentsStretch Assignments focus on building capability through challenging, responsibility-expanding work. This dimension is about giving employees high-impact tasks that push them beyond their comfort zones, require new learning, and strengthen their skills through real performance demands. It emphasizes structured support--coaching, tools, mentoring, milestone reviews, and regular check-ins--to help employees navigate complex responsibilities while growing confidence and competence. Stretch Assignments develop employees by immersing them in demanding, skill-building experiences that accelerate growth through doing.
- The project lead encourages others to accept projects or tasks that extend their abilities and present opportunities for development.
- Our department designs stretch opportunities that expand an employee's capabilities and supplements them with targeted feedback and practical advice at key points in the project.
- Managers provide stretch assignments with structured support -- combining challenging work with guidance, check-ins, and resources.
- Our department assigns stretch projects that push employees beyond their comfort zones and combines those assignments with regular check-ins to ensure they have the support needed to succeed.
- Our manager helps employees grow by giving them ambitious assignments and creating a supportive framework of guidance, progress check-ins, and developmental feedback.
- I am able to develop employees by offering and encouraging them to take on new or additional responsibilities.
- Supervisors match employees with development-focused assignments and stay actively engaged by offering guidance, answering questions, and removing obstacles as they progress.
- My manager assigns high-impact tasks that require new learning and ensure employees have access to the training, tools, and coaching needed to perform successfully.
- My manager assigns tasks and responsibilities to develop skills of employees.
- My manager provides challenging tasks to subordinates.
- Leaders give employees challenging tasks that build new skills and provide the necessary coaching, tools, and feedback throughout the process.
- Managers give challenging task to the employees.
- My team encourages employees to take on complex responsibilities and provides structured support (such as mentoring, resource recommendations, and milestone reviews) to help them navigate the challenge.
Career GoalsCareer Goals focuses on long-term direction and structured planning. This dimension is about helping employees clarify their career aspirations, identify the skills and experiences needed for future roles, and translate those aspirations into personalized 6- to 12-month development plans with clear milestones, learning activities, and targeted competencies. It emphasizes thoughtful dialogue, goal-setting, and roadmap creation--ensuring employees know where they are headed and what steps will help them grow. Career Goals is the strategic planning side of development: defining the destination and mapping the path.
- Supervisors help employees build structured development plans that prioritize key skills, outline growth opportunities, and establish timelines for achieving each goal.
- I am able to help employees identify long-term career goals and translate them into a structured 6 to 12-month development roadmap with clear milestones and learning activities.
- Leaders work with employees to design development plans that align their career aspirations with the skills and experience needed for future roles.
- The supervisor collaborates with employees to set personalized development objectives and create a clear plan that guides their learning and skill-building over the next 6 to 12 months.
- My manager assists employees in mapping out skills to build, experiences to gain, and milestones to reach over the next 6 to 12 months.
- My team leader is aware of the career development goals of subordinates.
- Our manager works with each employee to create a personalized development plan that outlines the specific skills they need to build and the experiences that will help them grow over the next year.
- I can help employees create career goals.
- My supervisor works with employees to create individualized development plans.
- My manager partners with employees to map out targeted development plans that include new responsibilities, training opportunities, and measurable progress checkpoints.
- Managers create individualized learning plans that specify which competencies to strengthen, which project to pursue, and what success look like at each milestone.
Cross-TrainingCross-Training focuses on broadening employees' organizational understanding and versatility by exposing them to different roles, departments, and workflows. This dimension is about job shadowing, short rotations, observing specialized roles, and learning key tasks from other functions to deepen operational awareness and expand perspective. It emphasizes exploration, exposure, and adaptability--helping employees understand how the business operates as a whole and how their role connects to broader organizational goals. Cross-Training develops employees by widening their lens and giving them hands-on experience across the organization rather than intensifying responsibility within their current role.
- My manager helps employees expand their knowledge by coordinating short rotations in other areas of the organization where they can learn new processes and workflows.
- My manager strengthens team capability by creating structured job-shadowing experiences that allow employees to learn from experts in other functions and apply those insights to their own work.
- Supervisors expose employees to different part of the business by offering cross-training assignments that deepen their operational awareness and versatility.
- Managers expose employees to other roles, departments, or process to broaden their understanding of the organization.
- Leaders encourage employees to spend time shadowing team members in specialized roles to broaden their perspective and build new skills.
- Managers arrange job-shadowing opportunities that allow employees to observe colleagues in other roles.
- The project leader supports employee development by giving them opportunities to observe how other teams work, helping them understand how their role connects to broader organizational goals.
- I am able to provide cross-training experiences so employees can learn key task from other departments and strengthen their overall understanding of how the business operates.
- My department offers job shadowing or cross-training opportunities.
CoachingCoaching centers on targeted, relationship-based guidance that accelerates skill growth. This dimension is about connecting employees with mentors, subject-matter experts, and experienced colleagues who can provide advice, share insights, and help them navigate complex responsibilities or specialized skill areas. It emphasizes personalized support, expert perspective, and real-time learning--giving employees access to people who can deepen their expertise and broaden their thinking. Coaching is the hands-on support side of development: providing the expert guidance needed to advance along the path defined in their career goals.
- Leaders introduce employees to internal and external specialists who can coach them on advanced skills and industry best practices.
- The project manager pairs employees with experienced colleagues who can offer new perspectives, answer questions, and support their development in specialized areas.
- My manager helps to coach other employees.
- The project manager provides advice and suggestions to others.
- The supervisor helps employees expand their knowledge by arranging mentoring relationships with experts who can accelerate their learning.
- My manager facilitates access to knowledgeable mentors who provide targeted advice and are able to help employees navigate complex responsibilities.
- Managers encourage employees to seek guidance from subject-matter experts and make those connections easier by coordinating introductions and learning sessions.
- My manager facilitates access to mentors and subject-matter experts.
- The supervisor connects employees with mentors and subject-matter experts who can provide guidance, share insights, and help them build deeper expertise.
- Managers connect employees with people who can accelerate their learning and offer their perspective.
- Supervisors strengthen employee development by linking them with mentors who offer real-world experience, strategic insight, and ongoing support.
Development Goals and PlansDevelopment Goals and Plans focuses on ongoing developmental conversations and structured planning that help employees clarify where they want to go and how they will grow over time. This dimension emphasizes regular check-ins about progress, obstacles, evolving interests, and long-term aspirations, along with collaborative discussions about strengths, improvement areas, and future opportunities. It is reflective and strategic--centered on building individualized development plans, refining goals as circumstances change, and ensuring employees have a clear roadmap for their growth. Development Goals and Plans is about defining direction and maintaining continuous dialogue that guides an employee's development journey.
- My supervisor discusses career goals with employees.
- Senior executives hold regular development conversations with employees.
- Managers check in with employees about their development plans, offering guidance and helping them refine their goals as their interests evolve.
- Supervisors schedule regular development conversations with employees to review their progress, discuss challenges, and identify new opportunities for growth.
- My supervisor holds ongoing development discussions that help employees reflect on their progress, adjust their goals, and explore emerging career aspirations.
- The team leader meets with employees consistently to talk through their learning goals, career interests, and any obstacles that may be slowing their development.
- The department head maintains consistent development dialogues that focus on progress, barriers, new skill interests, and long-term career direction.
- Managers help subordinates in building individual development plans.
- Managers discuss progress, obstacles, new interests, and evolving career aspirations.
- Managers engage employees in thoughtful conversations about their strengths, areas for improvement, and the experience that will help them advance.
- My manager creates space for employees to share what they're learning, what they want to pursue next, and what support they need to continue growing.
Knowledge and SkillsKnowledge and Skills focuses on identifying and recommending the specific learning experiences that help employees build the competencies outlined in their development plans. This dimension emphasizes action--guiding employees toward high-value workshops, courses, certifications, training programs, and learning paths that deepen expertise and strengthen performance. It is practical and resource-focused, requiring managers to stay informed about relevant training options and proactively connect employees with opportunities that align with both their career aspirations and organizational needs. Knowledge and Skills is about equipping employees with the right learning experiences to build the capabilities needed to advance along their chosen path.
- The project lead enhances the knowledge and skills of others.
- The supervisor suggests targeted development programs that build critical competencies and prepare employees for upcoming responsibilities or advancement opportunities.
- The project manager recommends relevant courses, certifications, or learning programs.
- Managers help employees identify high-value training programs that strengthen their capabilities and align with both their career aspirations and departmental priorities.
- Supervisors stay informed about relevant training options and proactively share recommendations that support employees' long-term skill development.
- Leaders recommend courses and certifications that match each employee's development goals.
- My supervisor creates opportunities for professional development.
- My manager helps employees choose learning programs that offer the greatest impact.
- The supervisor facilitates employee training when implementing new programs or systems.
- Our department helps employees identify high-value training aligned with their goals and the organization's needs.
- My manager encourages employees to pursue certifications and structured learning paths that deepen expertise and contribute to stronger team and business outcomes.
- Managers guide employees toward learning opportunities such as workshops, online courses, or certifications.
Providing FeedbackProviding Feedback focuses on giving employees clear, actionable guidance that strengthens their skills and improves their performance. This dimension is about offering timely, behavior-specific input that identifies growth opportunities, breaks down complex tasks, and outlines practical steps employees can take to build targeted competencies. It emphasizes clarity, coaching, and continuous improvement--helping employees understand exactly what to adjust and how to translate feedback into meaningful changes in their work habits and capabilities. Providing Feedback develops employees by directing their skill growth through precise, constructive, and supportive guidance.
- Leaders give timely, skill-focused feedback that help employees correct issues, build confidence, and make measurable progress.
- Associates are open to receiving feedback.
- Managers make sure that employees are aware of how they perform in their job.
- The supervisor provides actionable guidance that helps employees understand exactly what to improve.
- The supervisor provides clear, constructive input that helps employees translate feedback into meaningful changes in employee work habits and capabilities.
- My manager gives employees constructive feedback that highlights specific behaviors and offers clear steps they can take to strengthen their skills.
- My supervisor delivers developmental feedback focused on building targeted competencies.
- Managers give feedback that identifies growth opportunities and outlines specific actions employees can take to develop those skills.
- The members of my team provide developmental feedback that helps employees grow specific skills.
- My supervisor provides constructive feedback to others.
- Managers provide constructive, actionable feedback.
- My manager offers feedback that breaks down complex tasks into practical suggestions employees can use to improve their performance.
NetworkingNetworking focuses on expanding employees' exposure to external ideas, experts, and professional communities that enrich their development. This dimension is about encouraging employees to attend conferences, workshops, professional associations, and industry events that broaden their perspectives, deepen their expertise, and strengthen their professional networks. It emphasizes external learning, staying current with trends, and connecting with peers and thought leaders who can offer insights beyond the immediate team or organization. Networking develops employees by opening doors to new knowledge sources and relationships that support long-term growth.
- My manager encourages employees to attend external networks, conferences, or workshops.
- My team leader recommends industry events that align with employees' development goals and helps them stay current with changes in the field.
- Managers support employees in attending conferences, workshops, and seminars that expose them to new ideas, best practices, and emerging trends.
- The project manager provides opportunities for employees to engage with external experts and professional communities that enhance learning and career growth.
- My supervisor supports employee participation in external workshops, networking events, and association programs that build relevant skills and insights.
- Managers encourage employees to participate in professional associations and industry events that expand their knowledge and strengthen their professional networks.
- Supervisors help employees identify high-value conferences and association activities that deepen their understanding of industry challenge and innovations.
- The supervisor encourages employees to join professional groups and attend events that broaden their perspectives and connect them with peers across the industry.
- The project manager supports employee participation in professional associations or industry events.
Developing LeadersDeveloping Leaders centers on building leadership capability by giving employees opportunities to practice leading, influencing, and guiding others. This dimension is about assigning leadership-oriented responsibilities--facilitating meetings, mentoring junior colleagues, coordinating project tasks, representing the team in cross-department initiatives, and owning small projects where they must make decisions and communicate progress. It emphasizes experiential learning, increased responsibility, and readiness for advancement--helping employees strengthen leadership behaviors through real-world practice. Developing Leaders is done by placing employees in situations where they must act as leaders and grow through hands-on leadership experience.
- Managers encourage employees to develop leadership skills by having them facilitate team meetings and lead discussions on key topics.
- Supervisors promote employees to higher positions.
- My manager builds leadership capability by assigning employees to roles where they must influence others, manage timelines, and communicate progress effectively.
- My manager gives employees leadership opportunities.
- Supervisors help employees grow by asking them to mentor junior colleagues, providing guidance while allowing them to practice coaching and support skills.
- The project manager strengthens employee development by giving them the responsibility for coordinating project tasks and for guiding their teammates toward shared goals.
- Our manager tries to ensure employees are ready to move to the next level.
- My team leader allows employees to represent the team in cross-department meetings or collaborative initiatives.
- My manager creates leadership opportunities for employees.
- Managers give employees leadership opportunities by assigning them small projects where they can take ownership, make decisions, and guide the work to completion.
- The supervisor assigns leadership roles such as leading a small project, facilitating a meeting, or mentoring a junior colleague.
Learning ClimateLearning Climate centers on creating an emotionally safe and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable learning, experimenting, and asking questions. This dimension is about fostering psychological safety--responding to mistakes with guidance rather than criticism, encouraging risk-taking, modeling openness about learning, and reinforcing that growth matters more than perfection. It emphasizes trust, curiosity, and supportive dialogue, helping employees feel respected and confident when tackling unfamiliar tasks or exploring new ideas. A "Learning Climate" develops employees by shaping a team culture where learning is encouraged, protected, and woven into everyday work.
- My manager encourages experimentation by reassuring employees that mistakes are part of learning and will be treated as opportunities for growth.
- The supervisor creates a supportive atmosphere where employees can test new methods, reflect on outcomes, and adjust their approach without fear of embarrassment.
- My manager creates a psychologically safe environment for learning.
- Supervisors encourage employees to ask questions, experiment, and learn from mistake without fear of embarrassment.
- Managers foster open dialogue where employees can express uncertainty, seek clarification, and share learning need without hesitation.
- The project manager creates an environment where employees feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new ideas without worrying about being judged.
- Leaders reinforce that learning is valued more than perfection.
- Supervisors ensure employees feel respected and encouraged when they take on unfamiliar tasks.
- Managers respond to errors with support and guidance rather than criticism, helping employees to feel safe taking risk and trying new approaches.
- The project lead models psychological safety by admitting my own mistakes and showing how i learn from them, reinforcing that growth comes from trying and improving.
Developmental ProgressDevelopmental Progress focuses on recognizing and reinforcing the growth employees demonstrate as they build new skills, confidence, and capabilities. This dimension is about acknowledging learning milestones, celebrating incremental improvements, highlighting breakthroughs, and reinforcing that effort and progress matter just as much as final results. It emphasizes motivation, encouragement, and a growth mindset--helping employees see that their development is visible, valued, and appreciated. Developmental Progress is made by helping employees feel their learning journey is supported and recognized, which strengthens engagement and sustained improvement.
- The supervisor calls attention to skill gains and learning breakthroughs so employees understand that their progress is seen and appreciated.
- My manager reinforces that learning, effort, and improvements matter.
- My department recognizes when developmental progress is being met.
- My manager reinforces a growth mindset by acknowledging learning milestones and developmental achievements, not just finished work.
- Leaders recognize employees for the effort and learning they demonstrate.
- Leaders make a point to recognize incremental improvements, helping employees stay motivated as they continue building their capabilities.
- My manager sets performance objectives for subordinates that encourages development opportunities.
- My manager acknowledges employees' developmental progress by highlighting the new skills they've built.
- The team leader reminds employees that improvement is just as important as results.
- My supervisor celebrates meaningful growth by employees (such as increased confidence, stronger problem-solving, or improved collaboration) to show that development is valued at the company.
- The supervisor provides positive reinforcement when employees make noticeable strides in their abilities, regardless of whether the task is fully completed.
Removing BarriersRemoving Barriers centers on eliminating the practical obstacles that prevent employees from fully engaging in development activities. This dimension is about adjusting workloads, securing tools and resources, advocating for budget or organizational support, clarifying expectations, and streamlining processes so employees have the time, capacity, and access needed to grow. It emphasizes enablement and support--ensuring that structural constraints, competing priorities, or missing resources do not hinder learning. Removing Barriers helps develop employees by clearing the path for growth, making it possible for them to pursue development opportunities without unnecessary friction.
- My manager eliminates obstacles to learning by securing access to training materials, software, or equipment that supports employees' development goals.
- My manager removes barriers to development.
- My department helps employees overcome development challenges by providing additional support, clarifying expectations, or streamlining processes that hinder progress.
- Managers adjust workloads so employees have the time and capacity to focus on building new skills.
- My supervisor enables employees to pursue growth by adjusting workloads, providing tools, or advocating for resources.
- The project manager ensures employees can pursue growth opportunities by reallocating tasks or redistributing work when their development plans require dedicated time.
- The supervisor removes constraints (such as conflicting priorities or excessive workloads) that prevent employees from participating in training or skill-building activities.
- Managers advocate for employees' development needs by requesting budget, resources, or organizational support that enable them to pursue meaningful learning opportunities.
- Leaders advocate for the tools, technology, and resources employees need to fully engage in their learning and development activities.
Recognition and PraiseRecognition and Praise focuses on reinforcing positive performance and motivating employees by acknowledging their accomplishments, effort, and meaningful contributions. This dimension is about celebrating achievements--big or small--through timely, specific praise that highlights what employees did well and why it mattered. It emphasizes confidence-building, motivation, and creating a positive environment where employees feel valued for their successes, progress, and professional development activities. Recognition and Praise develops employees by making their achievements visible and appreciated, strengthening engagement and reinforcing effective behaviors.
- Supervisors give specific praise when employees accomplish something noteworthy, emphasizing what they did well and why it mattered.
- Supervisors support the successes of other employees.
- Managers make a point to acknowledge employees when they accomplish important tasks or deliver strong results.
- The project manager recognizes employees for completing challenging assignments and highlight the impact of their work on the team or organization.
- My manager recognizes and celebrates accomplishments of others.
- Managers create a work environment that fosters positive feedback to employees.
- Our manager recognizes employees when they accomplish things.
- The supervisor celebrates employee accomplishments (big or small) to reinforce the idea that their contributions matter.
- The project manager acknowledges employees who reach milestones or complete significant projects to reinforce positive performance.
- My supervisor rewards and recognizes employees for engaging in professional development activities.
- My supervisor offers timely recognition when employees achieve goals, ensuring they feel appreciated for their effort and success.
- My manager recognizes employees for their achievements to help build confidence, motivation, and a sense of value within the team.
- Managers encourage employees through recognition of positive change in behavior.
- Managers encourage both team members and associates through recognition of positive change in behavior.
Encouraging IntrospectionEncouraging Introspection focuses on helping employees learn from their own experiences by prompting thoughtful reflection on successes, challenges, and setbacks. This dimension is about asking employees to pause, analyze what went well or didn't, identify the skills they strengthened, and articulate lessons that will shape their future approach. It emphasizes reflective habits, deeper self-awareness, and the ability to extract insight from real work--turning everyday experiences into meaningful growth. Encouraging Introspection develops employees by guiding them to think critically about their actions and decisions so they can continuously improve.
- Managers encourage employees to pause after completing major task and consider the insights gained from both the challenge and the achievements.
- The project leader guides employees through reflective conversations that help them connect their experiences to broader development goals.
- My supervisor prompts employees to think about the skills they strengthened during new experiences and how those skills can be applied going forward.
- The team leader asks employees to analyze what they learned from mistakes or setbacks so they can turn those experiences into meaningful growth.
- My manager helps employees build reflective habits by discussing what went well, what didn't, and what they would do differently next time.
- The team leader asks employees to analyze what they learned from successes, failures, and new experiences.
- The supervisor encourages reflective practices.
- Supervisors support reflective practice by asking employees to articulate key lessons learned and how those lessons will shape their future approach.
- My manager encourages employees to reflect on recent successes and identify the specific actions or decisions that contributed to those positive outcomes.
Promoting LearningPromoting Learning centers on creating structured opportunities for employees to share knowledge, learn from one another, and build collective capability. This dimension is about encouraging participation in development programs, organizing learning huddles, pairing employees to teach specialized skills, and establishing routines where team members exchange insights, tools, techniques, and lessons learned from projects or training. It emphasizes collaboration, continuous learning, and building a culture where knowledge flows freely across the team. Promoting a Learning environment develops employees by enabling them to learn from each other and by embedding learning practices into the daily rhythm of the team.
- The project lead establishes routines (such as learning huddles or skill-sharing sessions) where employees exchange practical tips and best practices.
- The project manager creates an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing expertise, helping the team build collective knowledge and improve performance.
- Senior executives recognize that each employee needs training and development based on their individual learning style.
- My manager encourages employees to document and share useful insights, making it easier for the entire team to benefit from individual learning.
- Managers promote knowledge sharing within the team.
- The supervisor encourages team members to share insights from their projects so others can learn from their experiences.
- Leaders strengthen team capability by having employees present what they've learned from training, conferences, or major assignments.
- Supervisors promote knowledge sharing by creating regular opportunities for employees to teach each other new skills, tools, and techniques.
- Supervisors create routines where employees can teach each other new skills or insights.
- Leaders support knowledge sharing by pairing employees so they can teach each other specialized skills and broaden their understanding of team processes.
- Managers encourage employees to participate in development programs.
Role ModelRole Model centers on demonstrating personal commitment to learning so employees see development as a shared expectation rather than a directive. This dimension is about leaders openly discussing their own learning goals, seeking feedback, staying current with industry trends, embracing new challenges, and showing how they reflect on their experiences. It emphasizes visibility, authenticity, and modeling a growth mindset--reinforcing that continual improvement applies to everyone, regardless of level. Being a Role Model develops employees by showing them what active learning looks like in practice and inspiring them to adopt the same mindset.
- Managers discuss their own learning goals and progress so employees can see that continual improvement is expected at every level.
- My manager stays current with industry trends and shares relevant insights with the team to reinforce the importance of ongoing professional growth.
- The project manager demonstrates commitment to development by participating in training, workshops, or courses and encouraging employees to do the same.
- My manager demonstrates a commitment to development so employees could see learning as a shared expectation.
- Supervisors show employees that learning is valued by seeking feedback on work and using it to strengthen skills and leadership.
- My manager models a growth mindset by embracing new challenges, experimenting with new approaches, and reflecting on what was learned along the way.
- The supervisor demonstrates continual learning by regularly updating knowledge, tools, and methods, signaling that development is a shared responsibility across the team.
Conducts Assessments
- The supervisor uses planned and unplanned visits as opportunities to train.
- My manager conducts regular reviews to explore development opportunities.
- The project leader assesses employees' developmental needs.