Insights / Workforce Management
6 Ways to Provide Development Opportunities for Your Employees
A concise rundown of six practical ways employers can create meaningful development opportunities for their workforce, from training programs to stretch assignments.
Employers can develop employees through online training sessions, supervisor mentorship and coaching, traditional classroom learning, peer coaching and mentorship, cross-training, and stretch assignments. Each option should align with what employees actually want to learn, and completion should be recognized to encourage participation and morale.
Six Ways to Promote Employee Development Opportunities
Online training sessions. This can be an in-house training program or an external with credentials. These can be taken in a group or as an individual. Make sure, no matter the type of session, that you create recognition for going through the training. This will help the employee feel good about completing the training but also help promote the initiative to the rest of the team.
Supervisor mentorship and coaching. You may not think of managerial coaching as a development opportunity, but it is—again, assuming this is what the employee wants. Most employees want more direction and feedback. Having a mentor or coach helps employees go through a continuous learning experience that can be very positive and beneficial.
Learning in the traditional classroom is always a go-to for employers. With the growth of remote work, this option may be slightly less feasible. However, training a classroom of workers on site not only ensures they have the skills you want but also gives them crucial bonding time together.
Peer coaching and mentorship, in some ways, may be more beneficial than having a manager train your teams. Mentoring programs offer ways for employees to bond together while sharing important cultural and educational information.
Cross-training creates value in your workforce. It allows employees to avoid burning out or just getting bored with their existing job. It can even help you with staffing when people are out sick—you've already got someone potentially to fill the gap.
Stretch assignments are the perfect challenge for your workforce. These tasks offer employees new skills to learn and greater responsibilities. Again, though, make sure these learning opportunities actually matter to the workers themselves.
Frequently asked
What are six ways to provide employee development opportunities?
The article lists online training sessions, supervisor mentorship and coaching, traditional classroom learning, peer coaching and mentorship, cross-training, and stretch assignments as ways to promote employee development.
Why is cross-training beneficial for a workforce?
Cross-training creates value by helping employees avoid burnout or boredom in their existing role, and it gives employers a ready backup to fill staffing gaps when someone is out sick.
How does supervisor mentorship support employee development?
Supervisor mentorship and coaching gives employees direction and feedback through a continuous learning experience, which the article says can be very positive and beneficial for most employees who want more guidance.
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