Empowering Growth

2021-Present

One of my main goals as a manager is to ensure that my direct reports develop in their careers and reach their full potential. Through personalized strategies and the creation of a promotion template (which was adopted by the entire org!), I was able to help my direct reports level up in their skills, gain confidence, and get recognized for their work.

CHALLENGES

When I started managing the team, I noticed a few challenges when it came to personal development. All of the designers were talented and ambitious, but some found it tough or pushy to ask for a promotion. Many weren’t sure how to advocate for themselves, and there wasn’t a consistent way to showcase their achievements or readiness for a promo. My goal was to break down the barriers, help my team feel more comfortable advocating for themselves, and create a system that worked not just for my team, but for the entire org.

Key Initiatives

Personalized Development Plans

I started by extending the time of my weekly 1:1s when possible. The first half would be spent on project updates, design feedback, etc, and the last half would be reserved for personal development.

During the personal development time, I worked with my direct reports to understand their goals and create a plan tailored to their strengths and growth areas. The plans included concrete goals that they could essentially “check off” once completed. If they needed assistance achieving some of the goals, I would recommend resources for skill development or find projects that could help them stretch in certain areas. We would use the personal development time of our 1:1 to keep me updated and help them stay on track with the plan.

Creating a Promotion Template

One thing that kept coming up was that designers weren’t always sure how to present their accomplishments when asking for a promotion. To solve this, I created a promotion template to make it easier for them to outline their achievements and make a solid case for themselves.

The template was based off of Reverb’s career ladder. In the template, the designer would list specific examples of how they met the expectations of their current level and show how they’ve stretched into the level they want to be at. We talked through each career ladder section, and we documented where I still saw opportunity for growth. The template made it very easy for designers to show their achievements and measurable impact, new skills, competencies, and contributions to the product.

This template became a game-changer, not just for my team, but for the entire product org. After piloting it with my direct reports, it was adopted org-wide as the go-to tool for anyone looking to advocate for their promotion.

Stretch Assignments for Skill Growth

To help my team members improve their skillset, I found opportunities for designers to take on projects that would force them to practice the skills that they wanted to work on. For example, the projects would be outside of their comfort zones or forced them to use new tools/methods they weren’t familiar with. This exposed them to new challenges, expanded their skillsets, and prepared them for more senior roles. These stretch assignments helped designers gain experience, confidence, and examples to use in their promotion plan to demonstrate that they’re ready for the next level of the career ladder.

INCREASE VISIBILITY WITH LEADERSHIP

In addition to helping designers advocate for themselves with the promotion template, I worked with senior leadership to make sure their contributions were recognized. I found opportunities for the designers to showcase their work with leadership, since ultimately, it was senior leadership’s final call on whether or not a promotion was approved. I shared the promotion documents to clearly map out that the designer was meeting the requirements for the next level on the career ladder.

RESULTS

Promotions Across the Team

I was able to promote 2 designers to Staff Product Designer and 3 designers to Senior Product Designer. Each of these promoted designers used the promotion template to present their case. The structured format made it easier for them to showcase their growth, skills, and impact.

Increased Confidence and Engagement

My direct reports felt more empowered and confident, knowing exactly what was expected of them and how to grow in their roles. This led to stronger engagement and higher-quality work.

Adoption of the Promotion Template

The promotion template I developed was adopted across the entire organization as a tool to help employees from the Product team advocate for promotions. This standardization simplified the promotion process, created more transparency, and gave employees a clear framework to present their case.

A Stronger Culture of Growth

By fostering a supportive environment focused on continuous learning, I helped establish a culture where personal development and career advancement were prioritized. Designers felt supported, and that led to more engaged, motivated employees.