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How to Structure Your Rollout: Pilot Groups, Timelines, and Best Practices

Plan a thoughtful Develop rollout using pilot groups, clear timelines, and messaging that builds trust and engagement.

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Written by Product
Updated yesterday

A successful rollout doesn’t mean launching to everyone at once. In fact, starting small is often the best path to long-term adoption.

Start with a Pilot

  • Choose a manageable group (e.g., one function or region)

  • Involve engaged managers who are likely to give feedback

  • Run a full cycle: assessment → results review → 1:1s → team insight

This aligns well with internal cohort-based rollouts, such as new hire groups, intact teams, or department-specific pilots.


Suggested Timeline (Per Cohort)

Week

Focus

1

Introduce Develop and send assessments

2–3

Review results individually (Employees + Managers)

4

Host 1:1 conversations and/or team workshop

5+

Begin action planning and reinforce in 1:1s


Key Best Practices

  • Pre-brief leaders before rollout. They set the tone.

  • Frame it as a development tool, not a performance rating.

  • Normalize the learning curve: not everyone will “get it” on day one.

  • Build in nudges after results are delivered (e.g., email reminders, internal Slack posts, drop-in office hours).

  • Encourage employees to propose a development-focused action item during their 1:1 based on their results.


Rollout Goal

By the end of a pilot, you should have:

  • At least 1 action plan per user

  • Manager feedback on usage in 1:1s

  • A clear model to expand to other groups

Your pilot should provide a repeatable model to inform broader rollout phases.

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