Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want (BK Business) [Paperback]

Beverly Kaye (Author), Julie Winkle Giulioni (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 17, 2012 | Series: BK Business

Study after study confirms that career development is the single most powerful tool managers have for driving retention, engagement, productivity, and results. Nevertheless, it’s frequently back-burnered. When asked why, managers say the number one reason is that they just don’t have time—for the meetings, the forms, the administrative hoops.

But there’s a better way. And it’s surprisingly simple: frequent short conversations with employees about their career goals and options integrated seamlessly into the normal course of business. Beverly Kaye, coauthor of the bestselling Love ’Em or Lose ’Em, and Julie Winkle Giulioni identify three broad types of conversations that will increase employees’ awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and interests; point out where their organization and their industry are headed; and help them pull all of that together to design their own up-to-the-minute, personalized career plans.

Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go is filled with practical tips, guidelines, and templates, as well as nearly a hundred suggested conversation questions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This pragmatic book is chock-full of easy-to-follow steps on how to have critical career conversations—conversations that are uncomfortable for many managers and too often are avoided. I love that Kaye and Giulioni demystify the process and motivate us ‘to talk individual development’ with our employees. Our employees will love it too!”
—Patricia Crull, Group Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, Time Warner Cable

“Filled with great examples, questions, and real-world approaches that fit into the workflow, this book brings much-needed simplicity and personal touch back to career development.”
—David Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Marriott International

“Every manager will find this short book to be long on practical ways to make career development happen.”
—Jack Zenger, CEO, Zenger Folkman, and coauthor of the bestselling The Extraordinary Leader and The Extraordinary Coach

“Like eating your fruits and veggies, developing your employees should be done every day. Beverly Kaye and Julie Giulioni not only show how easy it can be but make the case that regular, short conversations can better develop people.”
—Charlene Li, founder, Altimeter Group, author of Open Leadership, and coauthor of Groundswell

“Life and business is all about where you pay attention. Pay attention to the growth of your people...and they will grow your business. The authors do a great job in spelling out the how-tos!”
—Chip Conley, founder, Joie de Vivre Hotels, and author of Emotional Equations

“Developing talent is essential for business success. This book provides a practical and easy-to-implement approach that can have a big impact on an organization.”
—Tamar Elkeles, Chief Learning Officer, Qualcomm

“One of the most important responsibilities of a leader is to grow future leaders. The authors do a great job making development something that can happen during one’s everyday work life.”
—Gabriella Giglio, Executive Vice President for Global Human Resources, American Express

“Should be the career conversation bible for busy leaders!”
—Marshall Goldsmith, author of the New York Times bestsellers Mojo and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

About the Author

Beverly Kaye is founder and co-CEO of Career Systems International, specializing in engagement, retention, and development. She is a well-known keynote speaker, writer, and developer of innovative learning tools.

Julie Winkle Giulioni is cofounder and principal of DesignArounds, a bicoastal consulting and instructional design firm specializing in leadership, sales, and customer service.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (September 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609946324
• ISBN-13: 978-1609946326
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.3 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Teams
  • #9 in Books > Business & Investing > Business Life > Motivation & Self-Improvement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It Doesn't Have to Be Hard September 17, 2012

By Beverly A. Crowell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

In my work with leaders at any level, I often hear the reasons why they won't have career conversations with their employees. Quite often they reveal that while they have the will, they are afraid they don't possess the skill. Worry no more! Help Them Grow or Watch Them Grow is a practical and easy guide book for busy managers who want to have meaningful career conversations with their employees.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership ideas for every level and area of life September 17, 2012

By Carrie G. Koens

Format:Paperback

I received an early-review copy of "Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want", and initially I was skeptical about reading it because I didn't hold a management title, nor did I work in a "normal" business environment, so I wasn't sure how it could be of use to me. I certainly did not expect to be sucked in by it, but that's exactly what happened!

Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down, and despite my not being in a position of leadership, I closed the back cover with lots of new ideas swirling around in my head. Even though I don't have a "management" title, the ideas conveyed in "Help Them Grow" can be applied in other life situations - including mentoring (whether official or casual), in church positions (like the missions committee that I have chaired for the last two years), or even from a leading-up standpoint.

"Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go" has a complete lack of technical jargon, and uses a down-to-earth, practical tone throughout the book. Kaye and Giulioni bring the theory of leadership into the realistic realm of day-to-day work, dealing with the usual time constraints and an understanding that projects still have deadlines, but pointing out that employees still need to grow. I've read books on leadership before, but this was the first one that I felt was truly geared for the needs of the average Joe or Jane, giving ideas and starting points that can be easily incorporated in the workplace.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Career Development Breakthrough September 17, 2012

By Jeannie Coyle. co-author MakeTalent Your Business

Format:Paperback

This book is a breathtakingly brilliant breakthrough--fresh insight laced with timeless wisdom for managers to make a compelling difference in peoples' career development.

This book takes managers off the hook for having all the answers to peoples' career questions, but puts them solidly on the hook for having the right questions. Questions that are asked with intense curiosity. Questions that help people develop hindsight and foresight to discover insights to make smart career development plans and actions. The book is peppered with concrete examples of these questions and great advice about how to ask them to engage in rich, meaningful career conversations.

A must read for managers who want to be more successful in supporting peoples' career development and also want to enjoy the benefits of increased employee engagement and retention, And, oh, by the way, increase their own enjoyment and sense of pride in making a positive difference in peoples' careers.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Managing Partner September 17, 2012

By Terrence Garrity

Format:Paperback

I am on the back 9 of my Sr. Management career and found this to be an excellent and easy read to help turn on some lights that I did not realize were fading. There are some great pointers as to how to keep the team motivated without confrontation or self imposed stress. Good for all levels, pass it on to your teammates.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Roadmap to Conversation September 17, 2012

By auskavitch

Format:Paperback

Every few years a leadership book comes out that I like so much that I read it with a highlighter. I use them in staff development and lend them out to others who want to improve themselves and/or their staff. Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go is one of those books.

Help Them Grow is the type of book that makes you think, "Hmm, why haven't I been doing that?" It's a straightforward roadmap on how to help your staff develop without you having to take control of the reins. Let your employees grab hold of those reins and become responsible for their own growth.

Kaye and Giulioni say that "your role is more about prompting, guiding, reflecting, exploring ideas, activating enthusiasm, and driving action". This book shows you ways to incorporate these career conversations in your everyday work life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go is my 'Go To' guide September 18, 2012

By Lynn M. Cowart

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a career consultant, I am often asked to coach around real time, easy to understand applications for holding career development conversations that have impact. This book not only provides rich insight into talking constructively about one's skills and behaviors, but also the tough dialogue around delivering candid feedback. Addressing one's perception of their skill and abilities as it relates to their reputation, the future of their work and other key elements of long term career success are addressed and mapped out in a very easy to apply format. The ABC model is a powerful tool and the 'What if..' questions at the end of each chapter are truly thought provoking.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beverly Kaye is our foremost expert on career development September 17, 2012

By The Critic

Format:Paperback

I've been reading Beverly Kaye on career development ever since "Up is not the only way" came out in the '90s. She has the best advice on how to have a meaningful career conversation and I've used her techniques on my own employees for years. I highly recommend "Help Them Grow."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights and Actions Are The Names of The Game! September 17, 2012

By Sara Jane Radin

Format:Paperback

The most frequent challenge my clients raise are around handling difficult/developmental conversations. The suggestions and examples in HELP THEM GROW OR WATCH THEM GO are so logical and inherently easy to apply that they mitigate the fear that often precedes such conversations. The bottom line - this is not only an essential read, it is also fun, practical, and engaging.

If you are a human being you will find this book to be a powerful and useful resource (both to help you develop others as well as yourself) - and one that you will frequently re-read and want to share with others.