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“Why” and “What” of Employee Development

Updated: Mar 8, 2023


Employee development is a process of improving the skills and knowledge of an employee. It is a way to help employees grow and continue to be productive in the workplace.

Development can happen through formal training, on-the-job training, or learning from mentors. Employee development is often done in response to changing business needs and challenges, or due to organizational changes such as mergers or downsizing.


As the world changes, so do the workforce. It is important to develop employees as they change with the times. To do this, organizations must be willing to invest in their employees and provide them with new skills and training. This will not only help them improve productivity but also be able to keep up with market trends.


There are many ways to improve your employees’ skills. One of the most popular methods is to send them to a training course. However, this approach has its drawbacks. For example, it takes time and money for both the employee and the company.

Some companies use an alternative method called “shadowing” where an employee is assigned a mentor who will show them how things are done in their department and help them develop their skills in that area. This approach has proven to be more effective because it saves time and money while also improving the employee’s skill set. Some other methods of employee development used by different organisations are explained below.

Job rotation is a method of employee development that enables employees to work in a variety of positions within the company and learn about all aspects of the business.

Succession planning is a process for identifying, developing and preparing potential successors for key positions. Succession planning can be done through recruitment, training or job rotation.


Online employee development is an effective way to help employees improve their skills and knowledge to increase their value to the organization.

In the workplace, "STRETCH" assignments are usually used for professional development. They are designed to stretch the employee’s knowledge and skill set in a way that is challenging yet achievable.

Cross-training is a method of developing employees by teaching them skills that are different from their current skill set. Cross-training is also beneficial for companies because it can help them find new talents and create a more diverse workforce


Challenges

Employee development is a critical part of any company's success. It helps employees grow and succeed, which in turn helps companies grow and succeed. However, there are challenges that can arise when developing employees. Here are some common challenges that companies face:

Lack of resources - If you have limited resources, it may be difficult to provide employee development programs. You may also find it difficult to find ways to implement the programs once they're in place. For example, if you don't have enough money to send employees to training sessions or conferences, then your program will fall short.

Lack of interest - If people aren't interested in learning new skills or improving their performance at work, then they won't participate in employee development opportunities. This can lead to low participation rates and less effective programs overall.

Unclear objectives - If there isn't clarity around what you hope to achieve through employee development initiatives, then it will be difficult for people to get involved with these initiatives or know how much effort they should put into them. When there's little clarity about what the goals are for an initiative or how it should be implemented, many people won't participate because they don't think it's worth their time and energy (or because they're worried about getting involved).


Employee development is vital for the success of an organization. It involves the employer investing in employees which eventually pays off. Ongoing employee development is essential for the growth of any business. Continual training and updated skill development will not only keep your employees engaged and productive but will also ensure that they are up to speed with the latest trends in their industry.

Providing opportunities for employee development will help not only the company but also the employees. Since as an employee, you need to keep up with the latest trends in the market. The companies that support their employees with continuous education and learning are the ones that are known to have great work environments and on the other hand, have a lot of productive employees.


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