Your employees are struggling with professional development. What can you do to help?

Identify and evaluate training needs through various mechanism. Reskilling and upskilling is very important for professional development. Training effectiveness should be reviewed at regular intervals by HOD/HR

I would first and foremost work on creating a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their professional development challenges while looking for ways to create opportunities for employees to grow and develop within the organization. Identifying & pairing employees with mentors would be key part of the intervention. Mentors can offer insights, share experiences, and provide valuable networking opportunities to help employees navigate their career paths more effectively.

To begin, grasp your employees' learning desires and preferences. Employ diverse tools like performance reviews, surveys, interviews, or skill audits to evaluate their learning needs. Inquire about their career aspirations, short and long-term, aligning them with the organization's objectives. This assessment pinpoints learning gaps and opportunities, enabling tailored support.

Personal training plans are the best way. Individual assessment from observations/ annual appraisals then agree on targets. Know your staff.

If your employees are struggling with professional development: Assess individual needs and career goals. Offer relevant training programs or resources. Provide mentorship or coaching opportunities. Encourage participation in industry events or networking. Create a supportive environment for continuous learning and growth.

Providing feedback and coaching go hand-in-hand. In my recent experience of mentoring new Managers in the team where the HR feedback is about lacking people management skills and the team feedback is about individuals holding things (professional) emotionally - the course of action was very direct feedback and advice/coaching activation in the same session. It is all about following up on the coaching bit regularly and giving individuals tasks which can help them implement advice in real world challenges

Enhance learning by matching resources to learning styles and career goals. Develop a categorized library with visual, auditory, and interactive materials. Assign projects that align with individual development plans, fostering real-world skill application. Promote cross-departmental projects to expand experiences and internal networking, ensuring opportunities are both accessible and tailored to each employee's aspirations. #WorkLifeBalancewithICTC #ICTCFutureOfWork

Refine the empowerment strategy by integrating digital tools that facilitate self-directed learning. Launch a platform enabling employees to set and track personal development goals, complete with milestones and reflective journals. This structured approach not only simplifies self-assessment but also makes the process transparent and measurable, fostering a more proactive and engaged learning culture. #WorkLifeBalancewithICTC #ICTCFutureOfWork

Enhance the effectiveness of leading by example through the establishment of feedback loops that engage employees in the learning dialogue. Implement regular surveys or discussion forums where team members can suggest learning areas for leadership, fostering a reciprocal learning environment. This method underlines the importance of mutual growth and encourages a shared commitment to continuous improvement. #WorkLifeBalancewithICTC #ICTCFutureOfWork

I always did the following things that helped me facilitate professional development for my team. - analyse the training needs at individual level to identify the performance gaps. - performance gaps can be tackled with training interventions (incl. coaching, mentoring) and non-training interventions (systems, processes, etc.). - leaders must know that performance gaps araising out of non-training interventions shouldn’t be addressed with training interventions. - enhance the developmental need perspective of the individual by giving them the exposure of how others handled similar challenges. - work with individuals to develop their development plans. - demonstrate your commitment for their development with support and rewards.

Broaden the scope of 'Innovation Hours' by instituting a comprehensive showcase mechanism, inviting employees to present their projects and learning experiences, including those that did not succeed as anticipated. This monthly event encourages a culture that appreciates experimentation and understands the value of learning from failure, crucial for fostering innovation and adaptability across the organization. #WorkLifeBalancewithICTC #ICTCFutureOfWork