Today’s workforce requires a different type of employer-employee relationship than in the past. The most critical factor in employee’s deciding to stay with an organization is the extent to which they have Training & Development and Career Growth Opportunities.
Training & Development – A set of learning experiences designed to enhance employees’ applied skills and competencies. Development engages employees to perform better and engages leaders to advance their organizations’ people strategies.
Career Opportunities – A plan for employees to advance their career goals may include advancement into a more responsible position in an organization. The organization supports career opportunities internally so that developed and trained employees are equipped to be rewarded with a position that enables them to deliver their greatest value to their organization.
Here are some simple ways that you can incorporate these elements into your organization’s culture:
- Learning Opportunities – tuition assistance, corporate universities, new technology training; attendance at outside seminars, conferences, virtual education, self-development tools and techniques, on-the-job learning; rotational assignments at a progressively higher level, sabbaticals with the express purpose of acquiring specific skills, knowledge, or experience
- Coaching / Mentoring – leadership training, access to experts, information networks, association memberships, attendance and/or presentation at conferences outside of one’s area of expertise
- Advancement Opportunities – internships, apprenticeships with experts, overseas assignments, internal job posting, job advancement/promotions, career ladders and pathways, succession planning, & providing defined and respectable on- and off-ramps throughout the career life cycle
One thing is for certain, for those who are performers with high potential, development and training opportunities with their current organization may be a vital necessity for retention efforts. Otherwise, you may be preparing them to learn what they can only to take it to a company that offers the training and career opportunities and for which they are seeking.
