When your legacy is in the forefront of your mind, your priorities tend to be clarified. Identifying these priorities helps to guide your day-to-day actions. Just remember that this is only one piece of the puzzle. More specifically, the actions you take to develop talent will be more effective for all parties when you align your top to-do’s with the organization’s vision.

Understand the company’s current trajectory

Before you set out to help others grow within the company, it is imperative to be clear on the organization’s vision and current direction. Is there an established plan to support and promote employee growth? Does your company consistently recognize that employees are its most important resource?

The research done by Amy Edmondson of Harvard Business School and Anita Woolley of Carnegie Mellon confirms that organizations require “fertile soil” to be present before the “seeds” of professional development can grow. 

It is a good idea to examine the existing organizational culture and managerial processes before embarking on talent development. Assess whether work is required in order to make conditions more favorable for people to aspire to leadership positions. You’ll want to ensure that their development and input moves in a positive direction.