In today’s fast-paced workplaces, individual contributors (ICs) often get sidelined in training efforts despite their crucial role in day-to-day operations and customer interactions. Surprisingly, 62% of ICs prefer to remain ICs, emphasizing the need to equip them with essential skills for success. Investing in ICs’ growth fosters a culture of learning, collaboration, and resilience, crucial for navigating today’s dynamic business landscape.
ICs are instrumental in driving sales, customer interactions, and meeting company objectives. Their proficiency in soft skills directly influences long-term business performance, making their development a strategic imperative. And after teaching thousands of learners, Hone has curated three learning programs specifically designed for ICs.
Learning Program 1: Fundamental Workplace Skills
The objective of this first learning program is to equip ICs with clear actions to foster trust and establish positive working relationships, mitigate unconscious biases, and build strong time management and productivity habits. You can use a program like this to ramp up early career professionals, new hires, or level set all employees to build a shared foundation of frameworks and language.
Key skills to focus on at this stage
- Building relationships: Strong workplace connections enable smoother communication, problem-solving, and support, enhancing professional growth and effectiveness in today’s workplace.
- Managing bias: By recognizing and mitigating bias, ICs can make more objective decisions, collaborate effectively with diverse teams, and contribute to a culture of equity and respect in the modern workplace.
- Productivity and execution: When tasks are completed efficiently and goals are achieved effectively, ICs can drive results, meet deadlines, and contribute to the overall success and competitiveness of their teams and organizations.
Classes to include in this learning pathway
Build High-Trust Relationships SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Understand the emotional bank account and theory of deposits and withdrawals Cultivate deeper trust using the trust equation |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Learn how affinity bias can influence access to opportunities Practice strategies for mitigating bias and being a cultural ally |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Using deep focus blocks to direct energy to high-impact tasks Sustaining energy by building restoration into the work day |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED How to utilize and grow your strengths both in your day to day work and at key moments throughout the year |
Learning Program 2: Individual Performance Accelerator
The objective of this learning program is to empower ICs with essential skills to enhance their performance, regardless of their position or role within the organization. You can use a program like this to boost intrinsic motivation, cultivate a bias toward action, and deepen self-awareness and reflection on their performance.
Key skills to focus on at this stage
- Setting and achieving targets: By mastering this skill, ICs can enhance their productivity, track their performance effectively, and contribute significantly to the success of their teams and organizations.
- Receiving and implementing feedback: When ICs are open to feedback, they can adapt their behavior and refine their skills to keep up with today’s dynamic work environment.
- Continuous improvement: Embracing continuous learning and development is crucial for individual contributors (ICs) to foster innovation, adaptability, and maintain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly evolving workplace.
Classes to include in this learning pathway
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED How to increase the likelihood that you will achieve your goals by making them more visible |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED How to map your priorities to a SMART goal and rank them by your chosen factors How to schedule, assign, and communicate your priorities clearly to all stakeholders |
Get Feedback That Improves Your Performance SKILLS TO BE LEARNED How to ask goal-based questions that lead others to give you concrete suggestions for how to improve How to receive feedback well and make the most of it – even if it is not delivered in the most helpful way |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED How to get the most “bang for your buck” by practicing deliberately How to push your skills by studying top performers and being part of a community of practice |
Learning Program 3: Personal Influence Mastery
This program is meant to transform the way individuals communicate and deepen relationships with colleagues to drive a wider sphere of influence regardless of seniority. You can use a program like this as next-level development for any employee who frequently collaborates cross-functionally and/or with external clients and partners.
Key skills to focus on at this stage
- Giving feedback: By providing constructive feedback effectively to leadership, their peers, and external customers/partners, ICs can facilitate improvements, strengthen relationships, and contribute to a positive and productive work environment in today’s dynamic workplace.
- Active listening and questioning: This helps ICs facilitate understanding, promote effective communication, and enhance problem-solving abilities within teams.
- Resilience amidst conflict: ICs must be able to navigate challenges, maintain focus, and foster positive relationships amid disagreements or setbacks in order to be successful collaborators.
Classes to include in this learning pathway
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Prioritize individual and group deposits to inspire influence and build partnerships. |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Acknowledging and validating Asking open-ended questions |
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Powerful questions to ask when coaching, building relationships, making decisions, innovating, and managing conflict How to sequence your questions effectively to get the most out of your conversations |
Transform Conflict Into Collaboration SKILLS TO BE LEARNED Improved communication skills for conflict resolution |
Power skills development for everyone
Making sure ICs have the right skills is key for business success. The learning programs we’ve discussed give managers the tools they need and help ICs thrive in their roles, boost their performance, and have more impact in the organization.
At Hone, we have structured learning programs and individual classes designed specifically for ICs at every stage of their career. By giving ICs these important skills, companies can create an environment where everyone is always getting better, working together.
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