Process and People
Introduction
Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey are renowned developmental psychologists and professors at Harvard. They focus on adult development, organisational behaviour, and leadership combining that result in optimal and sustainable performance. In their book “An Everyone Culture,” they explore the concept of Deliberately Developmental Organisations (DDOs), advocating for workplaces that prioritise personal growth and continuous learning as key to success.
Fostering a culture of growth
The authors emphasise that many organisations are relentless at process improvement but not as many are relentless at continuous people development. They argue that fostering a culture of personal and professional growth is the key to sustained success and long-term innovation. The concept of DDOs, where the primary focus is on the constant development of individuals within the company, leads to greater resilience, adaptability, and performance across the entire organisation.
Continuous people development
Process improvements, while valuable, are often finite and focused on efficiency and productivity gains. They can streamline operations and reduce costs but don’t necessarily cultivate the creativity, problem-solving abilities, or emotional intelligence needed to navigate increasingly complex and unpredictable business landscapes.
Continuous people development, on the other hand, builds an organisation’s capacity for learning, innovation, and transformation, allowing employees to grow in ways that benefit both their personal and professional lives.
Commitment to personal growth
In DDOs, individuals are encouraged to embrace vulnerability, confront their limitations, and constantly challenge themselves. This commitment to personal growth creates a workforce that is more engaged, motivated, and capable of driving not only process improvement but also strategic innovation. Ultimately, Kegan and Lahey suggest that investing in people development is a more sustainable strategy because it equips individuals to adapt to any challenges the organisation may face, making them the driving force behind both immediate and long-term success.
It is one thing to be relentless about continuous process improvement and it is another to be relentless about consistently improving the people that do the work.
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