Huntington National Bank’s Ignite Your Development programs were implemented to create a consistent and impactful development experience based on qualitative research that honed in on skills gaps identified by focus groups consisting of bank leaders, managers of leaders, senior leaders, and several Business Resource Group leaders.
With both leader and colleague programs assigned to new colleagues and newly hired/promoted leaders, the programs expand enterprise development offerings to a wider audience across the company.
Program Details
The Ignite Your Development programs focus on transferrable skills and professional development rather than job-specific tasks.
All new people leaders are assigned a one-year, blended program. Through this experience, leaders develop leadership skills and learn from experts and peers how to lead with purpose, connect with their team, coach and collaborate, and plan ahead for their team’s and their own development. The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to the bank’s culture is underscored in a virtual networking session between leaders and Business Resource Group leaders in a seminar early in the learning journey. The leader program is aligned with topics in the colleague program with a different approach—from a leader’s perspective.
All new colleagues who are not people leaders also are assigned a one-year blended learning program. Through this experience, colleagues learn how to embrace a growth mindset, foster inclusivity, nurture well-being and relationships, and sustain forward thinking and innovation. Content for the colleague and leader programs includes online courses, articles, videos (mostly designed and developed in-house), worksheets, virtual instructor-led sessions that include collaboration with peers, and surveys to help the bank evaluate and improve the programs.
A Development Hub and Leader Corner SharePoint site was created for all Huntington Bank colleagues and leaders. This site contains top opportunities for colleagues, consisting of programs, videos, workshops, monthly spotlights, and more. The site also contains opportunities for leaders, offering resources to support their own development and that of their team. This includes the Skill Journey programs, which take a deeper dive into the Ignite Your Development topics, and Team Huddle materials to conduct sessions with their teams to focus on their development. Content on the Leader Corner and Your Development Hub SharePoint site is refreshed monthly with new suggestions and resources.
All Huntington people leaders also have access to hundreds of development resources available on the FranklinCovey Impact Platform, allowing them to continue their personal and professional development throughout their career at Huntington Bank. A monthly Leader Development newsletter distributed to all Huntington leaders surfaces recommendations from the Impact Platform.
A badging system in the bank’s learning management system (LMS) recognizes colleagues and leaders who complete the Ignite Your Development programs. These achievements are viewable by all colleagues, including the participant’s manager, Talent Acquisition, and hiring managers for internal job postings.
Results
All new colleagues and new leaders across the enterprise received the Ignite Your Development curriculum. From July 2022 to June 2023, 3,468 colleagues enrolled in the program, and more than 450 colleagues completed the year-long program. Turnover between July 2022 and June 2023 was only 18.3 percent.
