5 ms·

This part is key: > Take the time, on a regular basis, to talk to your employees about their lives, goals and challenges. Ask them what they hope to accomplish

by taurath 11y ago

This part is key: > Take the time, on a regular basis, to talk to your employees about their lives, goals and challenges. Ask them what they hope to accomplish, not just in the next week, but in the next year, five years and ten years in their careers. Listen intently to what they say, and think about how you can help them achieve that. And then act. Anyone who asks me those questions will get double the loyalty out of me - they'll know before I even think of going elsewhere. I've been at way too many places that just don't give a damn, or assume that people will look out for themselves. They will, but probably to another place. But if you want them to be dedicated and loyal to working for you you need to get out in front. Solve the little problems before they become big ones, or lose your best employees (who can easily get a job elsewhere) and let your companies morale and productivity die.

gohrt 11y ago
Would an employee feel honest telling their boss their 5-year goals? What if it isn't "leading a larger team at this company" ?
- Quanticles 11y ago
  Not everyone can be a manger, strong technical people are very valuable too.
  - forgottenpass 11y ago
    OK, but that doesn't change the point of their post. It can easily be rephrased as something like... "Would an employee feel honest telling their boss their 5-year goals? What if it isn't "leading a larger team at this company" or "designing and developing more and/or more-important portions of the company's projects"?
- rzzzt 11y ago
  What does a typical 5-year goal sound like? I always struggle to come up with anything when this sort of question comes up (not necessarily in an employer-employee conversation, just in general).
  - taurath 11y ago
    "Be managing a full project on my own", "Manage group of people", "Become an expert in X technology", "Build 2 products into production", "Get to 100,000 users" etc etc etc. How do you want to grow? Do you want to stay in the same spot? Maybe for now, but do you want to be doing this exact same thing for the next 5 years? Not even minor improvements? Getting faster/better/stronger?
  - xyzzy4 11y ago
    I have no clue what you're supposed to say, but the closest thing I'd have to a 5-year goal is "increase my net worth by at least 20% per year". Which has almost nothing to do with my job except staying employed.
  - jkaunisv1 11y ago
    So you have zero goals in life? You expect to die as you are now, but older?
xyzzy4 11y ago
> Take the time, on a regular basis, to talk to your employees about their lives, goals and challenges. Ask them what they hope to accomplish, not just in the next week, but in the next year, five years and ten years in their careers. Listen intently to what they say, and think about how you can help them achieve that. And then act. Ah, the dreaded one-on-ones. This would actually make me want to leave the company if I have to be open all the time. Why should I have to divulge my personal aspirations to my employers? That's private information.
- throwavay_java 11y ago
  You should divulge your personal aspirations because your company might actually help you achieve them. It pays to start thinking about how your interests which you are a little bit afraid to share might help your career... because this is how you get your employer to pay for them. It depends on the employer. I wouldn't say "I want to quit this dump and become a water colour artist and photographer". But I /would/ say "I think that studying some art subjects would really benefit my front end design work here". I wouldn't say "I want to get away from you and write poetry" but I /would/ say "I would like to improve my written communication skills, which will really help the clarity in my correspondence with clients and in my detailed documentation and commit messages. Would work fund this course I have found" If there is any cross-over at all between where you want to go and what benefits your employer, it's in both of your interests to put that spin on it and get them to pay for it. The one-on-ones are only something to dread if you don't know how to ask for things in a way that is mutually beneficial. As you get older and more experienced in negotiation it becomes easier. Remember, its "career aspirations", not "personal aspirations".
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
- jdbernard 11y ago
  You shouldn't have to, but it makes a lot of sense to discuss your professional aspirations with the company who is currently a part your professional career. The only reason I wouldn't want my boss to know what my professional goals would be if I don't trust him/her to help me achieve them. If that trust isn't there then I'm already looking for a new job and this topic is one I make sure we discuss at some point if interviews get serious.
deleted 11y ago
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by taurath 11y ago

gohrt 11y ago

Would an employee feel honest telling their boss their 5-year goals? What if it isn't "leading a larger team at this company" ?

Quanticles 11y ago
Not everyone can be a manger, strong technical people are very valuable too.
- forgottenpass 11y ago
  OK, but that doesn't change the point of their post. It can easily be rephrased as something like... "Would an employee feel honest telling their boss their 5-year goals? What if it isn't "leading a larger team at this company" or "designing and developing more and/or more-important portions of the company's projects"?
rzzzt 11y ago
What does a typical 5-year goal sound like? I always struggle to come up with anything when this sort of question comes up (not necessarily in an employer-employee conversation, just in general).
- taurath 11y ago
  "Be managing a full project on my own", "Manage group of people", "Become an expert in X technology", "Build 2 products into production", "Get to 100,000 users" etc etc etc. How do you want to grow? Do you want to stay in the same spot? Maybe for now, but do you want to be doing this exact same thing for the next 5 years? Not even minor improvements? Getting faster/better/stronger?
- xyzzy4 11y ago
  I have no clue what you're supposed to say, but the closest thing I'd have to a 5-year goal is "increase my net worth by at least 20% per year". Which has almost nothing to do with my job except staying employed.
- jkaunisv1 11y ago
  So you have zero goals in life? You expect to die as you are now, but older?

xyzzy4 11y ago

> Take the time, on a regular basis, to talk to your employees about their lives, goals and challenges. Ask them what they hope to accomplish, not just in the next week, but in the next year, five years and ten years in their careers. Listen intently to what they say, and think about how you can help them achieve that. And then act. Ah, the dreaded one-on-ones. This would actually make me want to leave the company if I have to be open all the time. Why should I have to divulge my personal aspirations to my employers? That's private information.

throwavay_java 11y ago
You should divulge your personal aspirations because your company might actually help you achieve them. It pays to start thinking about how your interests which you are a little bit afraid to share might help your career... because this is how you get your employer to pay for them. It depends on the employer. I wouldn't say "I want to quit this dump and become a water colour artist and photographer". But I /would/ say "I think that studying some art subjects would really benefit my front end design work here". I wouldn't say "I want to get away from you and write poetry" but I /would/ say "I would like to improve my written communication skills, which will really help the clarity in my correspondence with clients and in my detailed documentation and commit messages. Would work fund this course I have found" If there is any cross-over at all between where you want to go and what benefits your employer, it's in both of your interests to put that spin on it and get them to pay for it. The one-on-ones are only something to dread if you don't know how to ask for things in a way that is mutually beneficial. As you get older and more experienced in negotiation it becomes easier. Remember, its "career aspirations", not "personal aspirations".
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
jdbernard 11y ago
You shouldn't have to, but it makes a lot of sense to discuss your professional aspirations with the company who is currently a part your professional career. The only reason I wouldn't want my boss to know what my professional goals would be if I don't trust him/her to help me achieve them. If that trust isn't there then I'm already looking for a new job and this topic is one I make sure we discuss at some point if interviews get serious.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]