Growth Factors: Descriptions, Behaviors, and Red Flags Description Behaviors Red Flags Eagerness to Learn
Curiosity, the desire to learn new things
An individual who demonstrates this growth factor:
Has a willingness to take a risk in learning something new
Shows a pattern of learning new things that are not directly related to one’s current or next job
Supports thinking beyond the boundaries
Supports taking on challenging and diverse career experiences, taking full advantage of development
Seeks out and embraces risk & challenging tasks in order to learn from them
Interested in learning things that are NOT directly related to performance.
Actively seeks feedback and learns from new experiences
New experiences reframe thoughts/actions
Applies learning to improve performance
Defends own performance, not willing to take risks and try something new
Not engaged in the moment in learning
Overly focused on own area of expertise
Defensive around feedback Breadth of Perspective
Thinking beyond the boundaries
An individual who demonstrates this growth factor:
Takes a wider view on issues, bringing in additional points of view
Is able to see issues or concerns in a broader context
Thinks through things deeply and sees the less obvious connections to other issues or parts of the organization
Approaches issues with broad perspective, not just what is needed to achieve results, but how it relates to other areas and the big picture
Brings in developments from other areas and has a sense of how they relate to the work
Makes sense of complexity and conveys thinking so others ‘get it’
Thinks/applies insights in fresh, creative ways
Decisions generally prove correct over time
Intellectual arrogance
Black and white thinking
Doesn’t value others’ input
Own greatness casts a shadow
Always has the ‘right’ answer
Doesn’t ask questions Understanding Others
Genuine desire and ability to understand others
An individual who demonstrates this growth factor:
Is able to understand not only an explicit argument/position, but subtext/context, reasons for responses, and perspectives different from one’s own
Really sees the other person as a “whole” – including needs, background and personality
Understands and values other people – their points of view and feelings
Good listener, especially to people with a different approach or background
People want to work with and for the person
Inspires and gets the most out of others
Team oriented
Career driven at others’ expense
Avoids performance issues or conflict
Not interested in people
Culturally non-adaptive
Too task focused Personal Maturity
Being mature and balanced
An individual who demonstrates this growth factor:
Takes feedback / difficulties as a chance to learn and grow
Takes setbacks and/or criticism with an even temper and emotional objectivity
Bounces back from adversity and helps keep self and others positive and motivated
Displays a notable maturity and balance, especially under stress
Accepts problems, mistakes, or negative feedback as opportunities to learn, do better
Persists with obstacles with a ‘can do’ attitude
Helps others cope with change and difficulty
Presence increases the likelihood that a team will be reasonable and productive
Lack of self control
Perfectionist
Too results focused
Thinks they can do it all themselves
Gets too upset when things don’t go well, doesn’t recover