Personal Growth Projects: Ways To Tap Into Your Potential
By Rebecca Quintangeli, PT, DPT
The best leaders know that personal development is critical to optimizing one’s performance both individually and as a member of a high functioning team. Personal growth projects are tools both leaders and team members can use to help inspire growth and foster reflection toward elevating one’s fullest potential. These multi-level projects allow for creativity and promote success for both the individual and the company. Leader projects help maintain a supportive atmosphere and keep team members on track toward company goals, while individual projects allow for personal accountability and development.
COMPANY LEADERS: STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS’ GROWTH PROJECTS
Meet With Each Team Member to Map Goals
From a leader’s perspective, taking an active role in helping the growth of every team member is imperative to the success of the company. Providing structure through obtainable goals set by both the leader and team member allows for communication about potential of both the individual and company. Connecting to each member by sharing goals allows for transparency and understanding of expectations.
Follow Up With Check Ins
Performing check-ins based on the goal time frame allows for the team member to feel support, and also keeps them on track. These meetings should check goal progression as well as identify barriers that are limiting progress. Together the leader and team member can adjust goals that are either unattainable or require modifications.
Create an Environment Open to Feedback
If team members are not open to feedback, and instead feel criticized, a toxic work atmosphere can result. Maintaining open lines of communication between the leader and team member ensures problems do not fester and leads toward a respectful and proactive relationship.
Create a Team Shoutout
Celebrating life moments, completing courses/certifications, and achieving personal goals creates opportunities for team members to connect to each other. Recognition of these successes promotes being a part of something more than just a company. These shoutouts can easily be done through email, team meetings, or a company newsletter.
TEAM MEMBERS: STRATEGIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH PROJECTS
Listen to Podcasts During Drive to Work
Not all personal development takes extra time. Within reason, we can use the time we have to listen to content we enjoy. Whether driving or during some down time between meetings, dive into a podcast to foster personal or professional development. With so many choices in podcasts this can be an opportunity to get creative ideas or learn about a new subject. Don’t forget to ask another team member for podcast suggestions.
Block Time for Self-Care
Work settings have invaded our homes through either the home offices or the constant access to email on personal devices. Taking the time to block anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour for self-care time is important to help decrease burnout. Learning a new skill is a great way to develop personal growth. Consider options like taking guitar lessons, steel mace training, or even volunteering to walk dogs.
Map Out Personal Growth Mode
Some of your team members may find that jumping into personal growth projects is fun and easy. For others, you may need to provide more of a framework to help them make the difficult choice of which direction to grow and how to make it happen. For those team members, I recommend mapping out a personal growth model. This model is a great tool to understand and map toward your personal development. It includes the following three-stage guide to help you reach your highest potential.
HOW TO MAP A PERSONAL GROWTH MODEL
Identify
First, identify your mindset, motivation, and values. When assessing mindset, categorize yourself as either a fixed or growth mindset. If you have a fixed mindset, seek tasks to help shift toward a growth mindset. A book like Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck may be helpful on your journey.
Once flexible, determine your key motivators that you will use to improve your engagement in your task. Lastly, write down your values to ensure you map out your development with them in mind, andcompare how your values match (or don’t) with those of your company.
Plan Your Goals
Next, create an organized list of goals specific to a task and time frame. Brainstorm strategies to achieve each goal that have specific actions. In addition, identify key players who can help you achieve your goals.
Take Action
After finalizing the plan, take action. Utilizing the team and leader projects described above can be very helpful in sparking creativity. After taking action, reflect on your progress by assessing your personal results and seeking feedback from a leader.
Using these growth projects at both the team and leader level allows for the continued development of a company. When applying these same tools into personal life, an understanding of true potential develops and provides the road map to continuing toward the best version of yourself.
References:
1Ashiq F. Personal Growth: A Definite Guide To Self Growth. Thrive Global. https://thriveglobal.com/stories/personal-growth-a-definite-guide-to-self- growth/#:~:text=Personal%20growth%20is%20the%20process,%2C%20maturity%2C%20success%20and%20happiness. Published April 8, 2020. Accessed November 16, 2021.
2Bailey A. 4 Tips to Personal Growth- for Team Members and Myself. Boss Magazine. https://thebossmagazine.com/personal-growth-development/. Accessed November 16, 2021
3Surbhi S. Difference between Assessment and Evaluation. https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-assessment-and-evaluation.html. Updated October 21, 2017. Accessed November 23, 2021.
Rebecca Quintangeli, PT, DPT, is a Physical Therapist with The Movement Paradigm located in Downingtown, PA. She can be reached at drbecky@themovementparadigm.com.