In this highly competitive world, employers tell me their employees are itching to learn new skills, with 80% even willing to learn in their own spare time. They have recognised that upskilling, reskilling and personal growth are the key to job promotion, greater job satisfaction and more career options.
It’s a win-win for the employee and employer who is constantly being challenged to find and retain good staff. It’s a win for personnel who are committed and prepared to invest in a long-term career in a company where the boss is willing to invest in their career and personal development.
KEEPING UP AND STAYING RELEVANT
Time and again, we hear about positive cultural corporate change after employees have acquired renewed positivity and drive from acquiring new critical thinking skills. Some of these people had reached an impasse in their careers or felt jaded or unappreciated, but after undertaking the upskilling process, they felt more personal fulfillment, greater commitment and appreciation of their employer.
Business practice is continually evolving, with new workplace ideas, rules and attitudes, advancements in technical skills and processes and inter-personal communications. Keeping up with change helps us all stay relevant.
IT’S EASY TO GET IT WRONG
So, while it’s more widely understood that continual learning is vital for development personally and in the workplace, you may find that some staff who say they want to upskill, really consider it to be a box-ticking chore and make it a low priority in their day-to-day job.
That’s your challenge to overcome and why it’s important to find ground-breaking, engaging learning processes with proven impact and success rates that encourage innovation and change.
Immersive training developments and rigorously tested learning processes have radicalised the way we upskill, with outstanding response and results.
WHAT KIND OF A LEARNER ARE YOU?
~Business Game Changer Special Promotion~
Some people respond better to visual learning. They “get it” when images, graphs, flow charts and brain maps are used in conjunction with actual demonstrations.
Others learn best through sound. They engage more with podcasts, lectures and seminars or listening to background music while studying.
Then you will find employees who respond better by experiencing a tactile style of learning. They remember information easier after actually performing the activity or role playing. It pays to offer an alternative as one-size-does-not-fit-all!
INCORPORATING LEARNING INTO THE WORKPLACE CULTURE
Adopting a policy of “do as I do, not just as I say” is important when it comes to establishing a workplace culture of learning. If your employees see that their leaders are continually challenging themselves and undertaking learning programs, they’re more likely to be responsive to personal growth too.
Given that workplaces are now competing with the trend to work from home, I recommend you consider creating a welcoming and nurturing learning space that encourages skills development, the reading of business magazines and books, sound booths for listening to webinars – even areas where they can practice the new skills they have acquired.
Even better, designate learning days or afternoons where everyone in the company is encouraged to participate, share what they have learnt, exchange new ideas and discuss their new perspectives and ideas.
THE REWARDS ARE ENDLESS
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but a curious mind is something to be championed and valued. Challenging yourself. Never standing still and exploring new things is a sure-fire way to success and personal satisfaction and achievement.
How can lifelong learning help your business?
By Marc Havercroft
ABOUT MARC HAVERCROFT
Marc Havercroft is President of global digital learning platform, Go1 – the world’s most popular corporate e-learning solution. Check-out: go1.com.
