Leadership Cultivation Model

When I work with leadership teams of brands - more specifically the people in charge of employees and culture - I often hear about the frustrations they have with employee review processes that feel pointless; as if they do nothing to help develop or build up their people. Not only do I hear the frustrations, but I totally get it. When you care about your work and give so much of yourself to it, it’s highly discouraging to work side by side with those who don’t. So how do we help shift the paradigm? How do we systematically identify and develop leadership in people, so they can help us carry the vision of our brands forward?

We first need to build a culture of shared ownership and collective accountability. A great starting point is creating a system for employee review. To prove to our people that we care about their personal and professional growth, we must be frequently having honest conversations with them about how they are growing both in the quality of their work and the quantity of their care. The Leadership Cultivation Model gives us the means to better develop our employees through the lens of their own individual growth - specifically in the areas of outcomes and ownership. After going through the formal review process with a team member, meet with others in your brand’s leadership and do the following: first, honestly assess how well the employee is meeting the expected outcomes of their position. Second, honestly assess how they care about (i.e. - ownership) or align with the purposes and positions that drive your work. Third, identify where on the x and y axes they fall, based on your assessment of them in the areas of outcomes and ownership. Once you know where they live on the diagram, you can know what the best next steps are for the good of their development and the advancement of your brand.