What it means to support your peers to develop

Supporting peers to develop means helping others in the team to improve their skills, knowledge, and confidence. It is about working together so that everyone can get better at what they do.

This peer support for development can take different forms, such as:

• Sharing knowledge: Teaching others something useful.
• Encouraging growth: Helping others to try new things and build confidence.
• Giving feedback: Offering kind and helpful advice to help someone improve.
• Providing emotional support: Being patient, understanding, and offering encouragement.

When team members support each other’s development, everyone benefits, and the team becomes stronger.

Why and when to support peers to develop

A high-performing team is one where everyone works well together, learns from each other, and keeps improving. Helping peers to develop is key to achieving this.

Supporting peers to develop is particularly important when:

• Someone is struggling: If a teammate finds something difficult, supporting them helps the whole team succeed.
• The team needs new skills: Learning from each other saves time and effort.
• Someone wants to improve: Encouraging learning helps individuals grow.
• The team is trying to achieve something new or challenging: A well-developed team can handle challenges better.

Supporting peers is important because:

• It makes the team stronger: Everyone improves, and work is done more efficiently.
• It builds trust: Helping others creates a positive and supportive environment.
• It improves confidence: People feel valued and motivated to do their best.
• It encourages learning: A team that develops together keeps improving over time.

However, it is also important to respect personal boundaries. Some people prefer to develop at their own pace and may not always want direct support.

How to support peers to develop 

Even if you are not the leader, you can still help your peers grow and improve:

• Share what you know: If you have a skill or experience that could help others, offer to share it. Explain things in a simple and clear way.
• Offer encouragement: Support others when they are learning something new. Give positive feedback and remind them of their progress.
• Give helpful feedback: If you notice something that could be improved, share your thoughts kindly. Be constructive – focus on how to improve, not just what is wrong.
• Be open to learning from others: Supporting others is not just about teaching – be ready to learn from them too. Ask for advice when needed and appreciate others' knowledge.
• Create a culture of teamwork: Encourage open discussions where team members can learn from each other. Celebrate small successes to keep motivation high.

By supporting peers to develop, you help build a positive, skilled, and high-performing team where everyone can succeed together.