The New Rules of Effective Career Development Conversations

The old ways of having development conversations are outdated. 89% of employees say they are responsible for their own career development. Here is how to engage with them effectively.

TL;DR: Employee expectations for career development have changed, requiring a new approach from HR and managers. Organisations must move beyond annual reviews to provide ongoing, specific development conversations. Equip managers with the tools and training to lead these discussions effectively, fostering continuous growth for employees.

Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report found that 52% of employees who voluntarily left their jobs say their manager or organisation could have done something to prevent their departure. Lack of career development conversations was the most commonly cited factor. (Gallup)

Not too long ago, employees were viewed as almost passive passengers on their career journey. HR would hire and train them, and then move them around as needed. But today, employees want to be far more involved in their career development. They want to create a career for themselves.

In fact, 89% of respondents in a recent Right Management survey said they are or need to be responsible for the development of their career. Employees today want to be able to dictate how, where, and when they want to work - and employers who hinder that ability are going to lose their top people.

What is the shift in employee expectations?

Businesses need to engage with employees more than ever before - and offer them the opportunity to discuss their development, goals, challenges, and next steps in ongoing and meaningful ways. The old, once-a-year development conversation is dead.

Instead, organisations need to commit to a series of conversations about different aspects that affect the employee - performance, leadership, career, and inspiration. Development is not a once-off task; it is a continuous process.

Why have more than one conversation?

A development conversation is no longer that - one conversation. Instead, developing talent through conversation relies on a series of conversations about a few different aspects that affect the employee. An employee might need to have a performance conversation about improving customer service, but they also might need to have a leadership conversation about building a high-performing team.

Do not think development conversations come in one shape and size, and are a once-off. Commit to having ongoing, specific conversations when the need arises.

How can you equip managers to have these conversations?

It is not uncommon for employees to be swept into the HR department for their development conversations. The problem is that the HR team is not necessarily working with the employees on a daily basis - they are unaware of their shortcomings or skills. Instead, the team's manager needs to be equipped to have the development conversations.

If managers have not been trained in how to do so, they need to be given the words. Technology and software can help guide them by taking them through what to say, when, and how - giving them the right language to talk about development.

How do you discuss distance and speed for growth?

The gap between a person's current role and a role you envision them moving into in the future is determined by the person's ability to perform in the target position and their aspiration to move into it. The speed at which they could get there is determined by their agility - the time in their current position, their emotional intelligence, and institutional knowledge.

Make sure these are points of discussion in your development conversations so your employees understand their career trajectory and what it will take to get there.

Ensure the conversation ends with direct, actionable next steps

It is all very well and good having a conversation about career development, but it will not result in actual change if it does not come with actionable next steps. At the end of your conversation, decide on practical ways the employee can improve and what you can do to help them.

It is often helpful to find out how to rethink their behaviour and react differently. For example, in a conversation about building a high-performing team, you might discuss how a leader is unable to delegate correctly. Offer an overview on why it is important, and then give practical steps to help them delegate more effectively.

TalentPrint - Structured Development Conversations at Scale TalentPrint gives managers the language, structure, and guidance to have meaningful development conversations with every team member. Personalised, contextual, and built for continuous development - not just annual reviews. Explore TalentPrint Development Features

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are traditional career development conversations no longer effective?

Traditional, once-a-year career development conversations are outdated because employees now expect more continuous and personalised engagement. They want to be active participants in shaping their careers, making a single annual discussion insufficient to meet their evolving needs and aspirations.

How can HR leaders encourage more effective career development conversations?

HR leaders can encourage more effective career development conversations by shifting to an ongoing dialogue model. This involves training managers to hold frequent, specific discussions covering performance, leadership, career goals, and inspiration. Providing managers with resources and technology to guide these conversations is crucial.

What role do managers play in modern career development conversations?

Managers are central to modern career development conversations. They are best positioned to understand an employee's daily work, skills, and areas for growth. Equipping managers with the right training, language, and tools empowers them to lead meaningful discussions that foster continuous employee development.

How can technology support better career development conversations?

Technology and software can support better career development conversations by providing managers with structured guidance. These tools can offer prompts, frameworks, and language to help managers navigate discussions about performance, growth, and career paths. This ensures consistency and effectiveness across the organisation.