Stop Being a Bad Manager with Just One Card Game
Understanding what propels your employees forward is the cornerstone of successful management. Career drivers, the inherent or external factors that motivate us in our professional endeavors, play a crucial role in this process. In this article, we'll delve into the concept of career drivers, explore a unique tool that aids in their identification, and look at the impact they have on management, growth, and employee satisfaction.
Understanding Career Drivers
Career drivers are the fundamental elements that push us to strive for success in our professional lives. These drivers can be intrinsic, such as a desire for respect or personal growth, or extrinsic, like salary or job title. Knowing these can significantly aid in shaping a satisfying career trajectory.
The Bridge Career Drivers: A Unique Tool
Bridge has come up with a unique, interactive tool to help identify these career drivers - a deck of Career Driver Cards. This card game enables managers to comprehend what fuels their teams, and paves the way for meaningful, organic discussions about what employees value most.
Bridge Career Drivers: A Closer Look
Each card in the Bridge Career Driver deck represents a career driver. Here are some examples:
Teamwork
Leadership
Work-life Balance
Culture
These cards offer a framework for employees to define what drives them in their careers, assists them in communicating their needs, and helps identify the skills they need to fulfill their aspirations.
Using the Bridge Career Drivers
The Bridge Career Driver Cards can be used in two ways:
Online
In-person
The in-person game is perfect for face-to-face conversations. It's not just a potent onboarding exercise to familiarize with employees, but a tool that can be revisited periodically to gauge engagement. Instructions on how to play can be downloaded here #.
Bridge Career Drivers: The Categories
The various career drivers are grouped into categories, such as:
Company Identity
My Contribution
Growth
Working Together
Appreciation and Security
Exploration
Each category encompasses multiple individual drivers. For instance, 'Company Identity' includes factors like brand, location, industry, mission, etc., while 'Growth' covers learning, personal development, achievement, etc.
The Role of Career Drivers in Management
Understanding career drivers can significantly enhance management. When managers comprehend what motivates their teams, they can create a more nurturing and productive work environment. They can align tasks with employees' interests, leading to higher job satisfaction and productivity.
Career Drivers and Growth
Identifying career drivers is critical for both personal and organizational growth. For employees, recognizing what motivates them can help in shaping their career development plan. For organizations, understanding employees' career drivers can help close the skills gap and deliver impactful learning, leading to overall growth.
Career Drivers and Employee Satisfaction
Career drivers directly impact employee satisfaction. When employees feel that their motivations and interests are understood and catered to, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. This can lead to increased productivity, lower attrition rates, and a more positive work environment.
In today's dynamic work environment, understanding career drivers is more critical than ever. Tools like the Bridge Career Driver Cards make the process of identifying these drivers interactive and insightful. By leveraging these drivers, managers can foster a workspace that resonates with employees' interests, promoting growth and employee satisfaction.
So, if you're a manager seeking to unravel the motivations of your team, or an employee aiming to articulate and achieve your career vision, understanding career drivers could be your first significant step. Request your [FREE] Bridge Career Driver Deck here.
Remember, in the words of Steve Jobs, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Understanding career drivers helps us inch closer to that love.
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs