If you are just learning to grow edible plants there is a new product on the market to help you. It’s a starter kit that contains everything you need to take the trial and error out of being a beginner. In the bag you will find seed raising mix, seeds, seedling trays and instructions. The kits are available for a range of vegies including broccoli, cucumber, lettuce, leek, parsley and spring onion. The advertisement I saw said they were available at Bunnings but are probably on sale elsewhere too.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was the equivalent for new leaders! It could be a little kit containing all the information you need to recruit, manage and motivate your team. Some organisations do their best to help out new leaders, especially if they are also young leaders, with a thorough induction, training courses and mentoring programs. Others do absolutely nothing!

I’ve seen some books for people in their first leadership position but I wonder if they really have the answers to the right questions or are just “politically correct” versions that are afraid to tackle the tough issues. The same with some workshops on offer. They tend to gloss over the hard bits and just focus on the theories.

So how do you help beginner leaders in your organisation? Do you remember the help you got when you were the beginner . . . did it help? What would you do differently if you were helping out a beginner leader today?

Tags: emerging leaders, employee engagement, Gen Y, Support for leaders