The difference of gravitating to the new buzz topic or “flavor of the day” toolset versus utilizing tools that build off each other and create a comprehensive view to work with.
By: Missy Jackson
Developing individuals or teams typically takes a multi-faceted approach for success. There are multiple aspects that go into creating a solid development plan. It is not a check-the-box activity. It takes time. It evolves as you go. Development inevitably will take multiple twists and turns as you uncover new insights and work toward the meaningful progress and results you set out to achieve.
Whenever you embark on a development path, it is important to create a baseline of understanding for the area(s) you intend to work on. Leaning on my lean process background (no pun intended), I would call this creating your “current condition.” When working on any type of improvement, its critical that you always start by gaining a solid understanding of the current condition. Utilizing respected, regularly validated and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) compliant tools is the best way to do that when creating development plans.
There is no shortage of tools out there to help create new and interesting points of view on what makes a person who they are. You can gain an understanding for what motivates someone, what drives them to get up every day, how they make decisions and why they behave the way they do. There are even tools out there that look at how your brain works, what triggers feelings of threat or psychological safety violations. There is a new tool on the preverbal shelf for you to pick up and try all the time!
There are several significant issues with deploying the use of disconnected, “flavor of the day,” tool set(s):
1. When you pull another disconnected tool set off the shelf to add to what you have tried in the past or are currently working with, means that the tools and results they produce can’t integrate and talk to each other. This can and will start creating confusion. You will lack continuity of language, format and diminish the potential for continually progressive results. You aren’t building a shared and universal language; you’re creating an entirely new language set every time.
2. Rather than building a comprehensive view of the person or team you are working with, it’s like you’re starting over every time. You create a sense of launch and abandon as you shift from tool to tool. Not only do you introduce different delivery platforms each time you switch, you introduce entirely different methodologies and fundamental delivery aspects to the information and views being brought forward through the use of the chosen assessment tools.
3. Regularly assessing the validity of tools you utilize is critical. Most assessment tools out there do not have robust systems in place to validate, challenge and update their tools regularly as the world around us evolves.
4. Many of the tools out there are not EEOC compliant and leave you at risk when you intend to utilize the information for development conversations, team building or hiring.
Vantage Group takes all of the above points seriously. When we work with clients on development, we want to ensure we never compromise the ability to capture an evolving picture of our client’s strengths and opportunities for growth. Through our proud partnership with TTI Success Insights, we are able to provide fully connected tool sets that offer consistent delivery platforms and methodologies, connected language, regular internal and external validation, and complete EEOC compliance. You can choose to gravitate to the flavor of the day, launch and abandon again, and add to the confusion for your people or you can choose to build clarity and high-performance results by working with Vantage!
When you choose Vantage to work with you on individual or team development, you chose well! To learn more about Vantage Group, visit our website or give us a call at 616-676-3330. We look forward to working with you!