We have written previously about the importance of learning and development when it comes to retaining high performing employees. The ability to master a craft is a powerful intrinsic motivator. Skills development is an important part of any employee’s long-term career plan. Knowing that you’re building up your skills and aiming in the right direction makes it easier to maintain momentum when things get tough, or learning feels pointless.
Creating a culture of continuous learning isn’t just good for individuals, it creates an atmosphere of curiosity, humility and ongoing improvement.
And, if you’re intentional about monitoring skills development in your company, you can actually direct it: identifying skills gaps, improving training materials, and building a future-proof workforce.
There are lots of paths for skills development, including:
- Formal professional training and certifications
- Coaching and mentoring
- Internal training workshops
- Learning Management Systems
Make sure people know which skills are important to the organization
Research shows that employees thrive when they clearly understand what’s need to grow and progress at your organization.
Following a top-down approach to goal setting enables employees to see their importance in the greater scheme of things and gives them a vision of what it takes to succeed. A fit-for-purpose training program maps the path to this success.
Enable managers to support and guide
A good manager is passionate about helping their reports build their careers. They want to help them identify the most suitable training programs, and if they see themselves as mentors, they want to make sure they’re focusing on the right outcomes.
Giving your managers a clear understanding of the skills your organization needs, and highlighting particular skills gaps in their departments, enables them to take decisive action and recommend useful skills for employees to develop.
Track and direct skills development in your organization with vi
Using technology like ours, you can collect real-time information on the skills acquired or in development across your organization. This information can be used to guide planning and address skills gaps.