About two years ago I was asked to evaluate some up and coming executives for a client. One of the people was destined to be international sales manager on a fast track. After meeting with individual and discovering her background and career aspirations we completed a more formal assessment process including personality and intellectual testing and a 360 degree feedback process.

While her testing and 360 showed a fair amount of weakness, he and the company were committed to her growth and development.  Through a development program consisting of coaching from her boss, external coaching with me, and a mix of reading and developmental tasks, today she is doing very well.  She has increased her emotional intelligence dramatically, managing her emotions better, engaging with peers and direct reports more calmly and compassionately and is seen as being a more supportive leader.  She makes decisions with less subjectivity and is working carefully on developing her team.

What began as a career derailment process has turned into a very successful developmental process.  Everyone wins.

What does your organization do to retain and develop talented people?