EDP – Employee development planning

By Poul Langagergaard

We are building cathedrals!

In 1987 former Chief Executive Officer of SAS, Jan Carlzon, wrote a book called ‘Moments of Truth’. He tells a story about two monks who have worked in a quarry, cutting stone, their entire lives. One day a tourist passes by and asks one of the monks what he is doing. ‘Cutting stone’ he answers bleakly. The tourist then asks the other monk the same question. His face lights up in a smile and he answers, ‘We’re building cathedrals!’

Carlzon’s point is that the two monks had different managers. One had simply sent the monk out to cut stone.  The other manager had shown his monk the result, ‘We are building this fine cathedral’. Therefore, each cut in the stone was a joy and challenge for this monk.

EDP is about setting goals and visions, and involving each employee so they have a real sense of ownership.

However, EDP is also about setting the scene for open, honest and respectful dialogue, where you can give and receive feedback.

Based on what has been said in the articles on skills and their development (Read more), EDP must create the right conditions for genuine development of each employee, step-by-step.

Appreciative approach – getting ‘the best’ to spread

By Poul Langagergaard 

If you focus on negative things, they have a tendency to grow. If you focus on the positive things, the same thing happens – they grow.

Use this insight in EDP to bring out the best in your employees. Get them to describe the best experience, process or working day they have had on the job. Ask them what made it good, who contributed, who did what.
 
You will discover that this positive approach taps into enormous energy, and ‘the best’ will spread!

A sunflower turns to face the sun.