Keeping It Real

Welcome to another edition of the New Bridge. Here, I will break down the future of work topics that matter, open your mind to use cases, and keep you ahead of the curve.

My #1 goal is to be helpful, so please send me an email if you have any questions or feedback.

In today’s edition:

• Keeping it real: Realistic Job Previews

• Succession planning & talent development

• Mentoring programs paving the way

🎨 This Week’s Spotlight: Gul Yildiz

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Let’s dive in.

KEEPING IT REAL: REALISTIC JOB PREVIEWS

In the race to attract top talent, organizations often paint a rosy picture of their workplace and craft enticing job descriptions to lure candidates. While the intention is to remain competitive, this approach can backfire. Candidates value honesty and seek transparency about the realities of a role.

Enter Realistic Job Previews (RJPs), a game-changing and sometimes underutilized tool in recruitment. These previews provide an authentic glimpse into day-to-day responsibilities, workplace dynamics and help candidates make informed decisions. This includes positive and negative information about the job.

Recent studies underscore the impact of RJPs on increasing retention and engagement. Candidates who undergo realistic previews are more likely to stay longer in their roles and have a clearer understanding of what to expect. This transparency builds trust and significantly reduces the risk of candidate mismatch.

What does a RJP look like? Here are some examples:

• A job posting describing the role in a realistic fashion. No gimmicks

• A virtual or in-person walk-through of the office showcasing team dynamics and ‘a day in the life of’

• A shadowing opportunity involving a project collaboration session

This immersive experience allows candidates to gauge if the role aligns with their expectations and skills.

So, there you have it – RJPs are your secret tools to cut through the recruitment noise. Be real, be transparent, and build a team that's in it for the long haul. Your future hires will thank you for keeping it real. 💼✨

LUNCH & LEARN: SUCCESSION PLANNING & TALENT DEVELOPMENT

The journey to career advancement is both dynamic and challenging. To navigate this path successfully, you must possess the right skills and be strategically prepared to level up. Succession planning is not a passive process; it requires proactive engagement and continuous development.

Employee Readiness: The Cornerstone to Progression

At the heart of career progression lies employee readiness. Being ready for the next level involves a combination of skills, experience, and a mindset geared towards growth. It's not merely about putting in the years; it's about acquiring the competencies that set you apart.

Talent Development: Your Vehicle to Success

Talent development is the engine that propels individuals forward in their careers. Strategies like coaching, on-the-job training, mentoring, skills & leadership training are at the core. Companies prioritizing these strategies foster a culture of continuous learning and ensure their employees grow to their potential.

Let’s briefly dive into the the different talent development strategies:

Coaching: Personalized guidance helps individuals identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, accelerating personal and professional growth.

On-the-Job Training: Exposure to real-world scenarios hones practical skills and fosters a deep understanding of the business.

Mentorship: Learning from seasoned professionals provides invaluable insights, shortcuts the learning curve, and establishes a support network.

Skills Training: Regularly updating skills and staying abreast of industry trends is non-negotiable in today's fast-paced world.

Leadership Training: Leadership training is a focused process to develop and enhance the skills and qualities of individuals in leadership roles or those who have the potential to be leaders.

Succession & Career Planning Blueprint

Consider this template as an example of a talent roadmap in your organization. A quick glance reveals where your employees stand and their readiness to level up. It’s a simple table that will identify succession plans, talent gaps and prompt leaders to strategize on individualized career plans.

Questions like the following can help in the career planning process:

• What additional training or coaching does Bethany need to be a successful manager?

• Is 1-2 years enough time for Bethany to acquire the skills necessary to succeed as a leader?

• Does Chris want to be a manager, or does he prefer an individual contributor role?

• Chris has potential but is undecided on his next career move. Can a mentor assist him in deciding?

• No one in the organization is immediately ready to take on a VP role. If Ian, Michael or Brandon leave, how are you preparing? You could put Claire on an accelerated career path or start engaging with recruitment to have a plan in place for an external hire

As you scan through this template and ask yourself these questions, take stock of your employees’ aspirations by having open and honest career discussions. Do not assume that your employees’ aspirations are the same as your aspirations for them. Career planning is a two-way street. 💥

MENTORING PROGRAMS

As mentioned above, organizations increasingly turn to mentoring programs as a strategic tool to foster career growth, enhance employee engagement, and drive organizational success. The symbiotic relationship between mentors and mentees creates a powerful dynamic that transcends traditional hierarchical structures. Here's why your organization should consider embracing mentoring programs:

1. Accelerate Professional Development: 

   Mentoring programs provide a fast track for talent development. Organizations create a knowledge transfer conduit by pairing experienced mentors with eager mentees. This accelerates the learning curve for new hires and grooms emerging leaders, ensuring a continuous pipeline of skilled and motivated individuals

2. Increase Employee Engagement:

   Engaged employees are the heartbeat of a thriving organization. Mentoring programs cultivate a sense of belonging and purpose. When employees feel supported and guided, they are more likely to be invested in their roles, leading to increased productivity and a positive workplace culture

3. Diverse Perspectives for Inclusive Growth:

   A well-structured mentoring program facilitates the exchange of diverse perspectives. It breaks down silos, fostering an inclusive environment where employees from different backgrounds collaborate, share insights, and contribute unique ideas. This diversity of thought is a catalyst for innovation and problem-solving

Options for Implementing Mentoring Programs:

Tailoring mentoring programs to fit organizational needs is crucial. Here are some options to consider:

• Traditional one-on-one pairing: Classic mentor-mentee partnerships provide personalized guidance and foster deep connections. This option is effective for in-depth skill development and career planning

• Group mentoring: Create a collaborative learning environment by pairing one mentor with multiple mentees. Group mentoring promotes teamwork, shared learning, and a sense of community within the organization

• Reverse Mentoring: Flip the traditional dynamic by pairing a more junior employee with a senior leader. This approach facilitates knowledge exchange, enhances diversity awareness, and empowers younger generations

• Virtual Mentoring: In our digital age, mentoring programs don’t have to be confined to physical proximity. Leverage technology to connect mentors and mentees regardless of geographical location, fostering a global exchange of ideas

🎨 SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK:

My passion for art offers moments of serenity and reflection in the fast-paced world of HR. Fusing these seemingly contrasting interests has propelled me to explore innovative ways to integrate both spaces. By combining my enthusiasm for digital art with my expertise in HR, I aim to foster creativity, diversity, and inclusion, leveraging blockchain technology’s potential and enhancing workplace culture and engagement.

In each edition of this newsletter, I shine a spotlight on a talented digital artist who's pushing the boundaries of creativity. Stay tuned for our featured weekly artist, where we'll explore their work, inspiration, and dedication to their craft.

This Week’s Spotlight: Gul Yildiz

Photography is a love for Gul. It is a way of documenting moments that will never come back and allows her to get to know different cultures, histories, and communities. Although she photographs in all styles, she is known as a minimalist photographer in her country and the photography community. She likes to use a small number of things to make a point.

Gul has trained thousands of students as an official photographer of Fujifilm. She has participated in many exhibitions, festivals, and seminars in Turkey and abroad. She has also won awards and been a judge in many international photo competitions.

In addition to being an acclaimed photographer, Gul is a cinema educator. She has written books and many academic articles on the topic. Photography and cinema are her main specialties, but she likes to extend her capabilities to other expressions and tools of art when producing her pieces. Gul has completed many photography projects. Her architectural, ballerina and minimal projects are the longest-running and still ongoing.

Here are three of Gul’s works from ‘The Soul of Ballet Collection’:

Stairway to Heaven (Dresden, Germany. 2018): Dresden is a city that rose from the ashes of Germany. It has suffered disasters throughout history, but especially during World War II where it was bombed and razed to the ground, only to rise again from the ashes. This staircase is a building of great architecture that adds beauty to the city. She combined it with a ballerina, a pure symbol of aesthetics. The ballerina is the soul of this photograph.

 Genuine (Lviv, Ukraine. 2019): One of the best ballerinas in the world, Anna Pavlova said, ‘If I could sing, I wouldn't have to dance’. Ballet expresses everything that cannot be conveyed in words, represents aesthetics and pure elegance.

 Pride (Belgrade, Serbia. 2022): Ballet combines elegance and aesthetics with art. Ballerinas have a high degree of physical ability, discipline, flexibility, balance, and aesthetic sensitivity. In an underpass in Belgrade, a ballerina, accompanied by birds, stands before us with all her elegance.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

What a month in AI news!

• Elon Musk’s Grok AI to rival ChatGPT

• Sam Altman returns as CEO of OpenAI

• Humane AI Pin launches to replace smart phones

That’s all!

We’ll see you again next week. Email me if you think about any relevant topics you would like me to cover. Thoughts, feedback, and questions are welcome and appreciated.

You can read past The New Bridge newsletters on this site 🚀.

Cheers,

The New Bridge