You don’t need a big budget or complicated plans to help your team grow. These simple, everyday ideas can make a real difference – and show your people that their development matters.
Career conversations don’t need to be formal or high-pressure. They’re just that – conversations. A chance to understand what matters to each person and what might help them grow.
Try asking:
What kind of work energises you the most?
Is there a skill or area you’re curious about right now?
Where would you like to be in a year or two – and what might help you get there?
You don’t need all the answers. Just being interested and asking the right questions is a powerful first step.
Career development doesn’t have to mean training courses or big moves. It can come from small, meaningful moments – especially when someone’s encouraged to try something new or stretch themselves a little.
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If someone wants to... |
You could... |
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Explore a new skill |
Let them shadow a colleague or take on a small task that’s outside their usual role |
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Build confidence |
Ask them to lead part of a meeting or share something they’ve worked on |
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Learn about the business |
Set up a quick chat with someone in another team |
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Try something new |
Invite them into a short-term project or suggest a task swap |
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Grow into a future role |
Help them spot which skills they’ll need and find low-risk ways to practise them |
Little things, done consistently, build trust and confidence over time.
Your own learning mindset helps set the tone. When you show that growth matters to you too, it gives your team permission to explore and stretch.
You might:
Share something you’ve learned lately
Mention a challenge you’re working on
Recommend a podcast, article or event you found useful
Ask for feedback and say what you’re doing with it
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be open.
If your team’s ready to explore more formal development, Breathe’s Learn add-on makes it easy to assign training, track progress and keep everything in one place – no spreadsheets or sticky notes needed.
Because helping your people grow shouldn’t be hard work.