Tips For Keeping Employees Engaged and Growing
A strong company is always growing and evolving, so it’s important to ensure that your employees are doing the same. But what’s the best approach to promote development of the top talent? That answer may be unique depending on your company, team and overall approach to your business.
One Set Curriculum For All
Making your learning practices standardized can be an effective, efficient tool to keep your company competitive. If you have a large organization, this method can be the most fiscally sound approach. However, you need to stay on top of the educational material, as teaching whole groups of employees obsolete practices can set your entire company back.
Self-Tailored Learning Plans For Each Employee
Letting your employees choose what path to take to stay competitive in their field can benefit everyone. Younger employees are especially receptive to this form of learning, as they respond better to the individual approach that this takes. Each employee has a “custom” curriculum that helps them focus only on their strengths and improve their weaknesses, which can also help your company save money on unnecessary classes and improve employee retention.
Teach By Example
If you’ve got the knowledge in-house, spread it around. Some of the best teachers are probably already in your company, and no one will be more familiar with the nuances of your business than long-time employees. If you’ve just nabbed a great new hire, have them lead some classes early to bring in fresh ideas and inspire others. Turn everyday tasks into opportunities for teams to share their knowledge with departments they may not normally engage. You can break down silos and improve communication while promoting a better understanding of your entire organization.
Mix It Up To Match Your Employees
As you grow, and depending on your familiarity with the people in your organization, you may want to incorporate a mixture of these teaching methods. Tailoring specific and unique plans may be better suited for some employees, especially as they advance among the ranks, while new hires may still be better suited to a more universal approach until they have found their niches within your company. If your business is fairly small and employees are already involved in multiple tasks, it may not be necessary to use internal tasks as teaching methods. However, this practice could still benefit management and inspire pride and confidence in employees.
Whatever course you choose, stay involved in the development of your team, on all levels. Cultivating a company that is on the forefront of your field means having the latest knowledge. Work with your employees to keep them interested in training to be the best they can be.