Welcome to the "Encouraging Feedback and Growth" course! In this unit, you will learn essential skills to optimize 1-1 meetings with your team. You’ll explore how to model a growth mindset, align individuals' work with their career aspirations, create personalized development plans, and discuss technical and professional progress effectively. Mastering these skills will foster a culture of continuous improvement and growth within your team, driving better performance and satisfaction.

Sharing your professional development goals is a great way to model a growth mindset. When you openly discuss your goals, it encourages your team to reflect on their own growth. For instance, you might say, "I'm currently working on improving my project management skills. What about you? Any areas you're excited to develop?" This not only makes you more relatable but also fosters an open dialogue about growth and development.

Seeking constructive feedback from your team shows you value their opinions and are committed to self-improvement. It can be as simple as asking, "I’m looking to improve how I run our 1-1 meetings. Do you have any suggestions on what I could do better?" This sets a positive example and can lead to valuable insights. It also demonstrates your humility and a commitment to improvement.

To foster a truly growth-oriented culture, share how you've learned from your own mistakes. This builds trust and demonstrates that it's okay to make errors as long as you learn from them. Sharing these stories creates an environment where team members feel safe discussing their own challenges and setbacks.

Here is a sample dialogue:

• Nova: I once underestimated the time it would take to complete a project, leading to last-minute pressures. Since then, I've learned to include buffer time in my plans.
• Jake: I can relate to that. I recently overcommitted on a deliverable and had to put in extra hours to meet the deadline. What strategies did you find effective for better time estimation?
• Nova: Including buffer time and setting more realistic milestones have been game-changers for me.

Stay tuned for our role-play sessions where you'll have the chance to practice these skills, starting with sharing your professional development goals and encouraging your team to do the same.