In a recent LinkedIn post, Justin Wright discusses a novel approach to fostering team growth and ownership, moving beyond traditional, often ineffective, annual reviews. Wright shares his experience and a practical workflow designed to empower team members to take the reins of their professional development.
Wright begins by highlighting a common managerial challenge: the desire to invest in team growth versus the lack of a structured system to do so effectively. He recounts his own past struggles where development plans were created and then quickly forgotten.
“For years, I’d prepare the ‘development’ plan. Meet with my team member. Hand it over. By Tuesday, we’d both moved on.”
This personal anecdote sets the stage for the innovative solution he implemented this year. Wright explains that he provided his team with two prompts to encourage self-reflection on their growth before their one-on-one meetings. A key element of his new strategy involves leveraging AI tools.
Leveraging AI for Personal Development Planning
According to Wright, the process began with team members using ChatGPT to brainstorm their goals, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement. This AI-assisted reflection aimed to provide a solid foundation for their individual development plans.
“They used ChatGPT to think through their goals, strengths, and gaps.”
Following the AI-driven brainstorming, Wright introduced another tool, Gamma, to transform the raw ideas into a polished, visual one-pager. This step is crucial in making the development plans tangible and easy to understand.
From Reflection to Ownership
Wright emphasizes that the subsequent one-on-one meetings were transformed. Instead of passively receiving a plan, team members actively engaged with their self-created documents. As Justin Wright notes, the dynamic shifted:
“We went through their plan together. I asked questions. They refined it. They left feeling ownership.”
This emphasis on ownership is a central theme in Wright’s post. By involving the team members directly in the creation and refinement of their development plans, he fostered a sense of accountability and engagement that was previously missing.
Fostering a Culture of Support and Collaboration
Beyond individual ownership, Wright’s approach extended to encouraging team-wide sharing. He offered his team the option to share their one-pagers with the rest of the group, a move that yielded significant positive results.
Wright points out that this voluntary sharing cultivated a more supportive and collaborative team environment. Teammates began to offer each other encouragement, ask more insightful questions, and celebrate collective successes.
“Teammates started supporting each other. Asking better questions. Celebrating wins.”
He believes this communal aspect of growth is vital for overall team success. The workflow, which he shares is free to implement using ChatGPT and Gamma, is presented as a practical and effective method for managers seeking to genuinely invest in their team’s development.
In concluding his post, Wright reiterates his core belief: the more an individual invests in their team’s growth, the greater the collective success. This, he suggests, is the lasting impact that truly matters for both individuals and the organization.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Justin Wright on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 29, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →