With unemployment at historic lows, companies are struggling to recruit talent from outside their walls. Fortunately, companies already have a wealth of talent within their own teams – if they have the programs needed to cultivate those workers’ skills for long-term success.
Here are the traits that the best in-house talent development programs have in common:
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Create a Clear Vision
A talent development program must align with the company’s vision, mission, and goals. As a result, it’s important for leadership to articulate the vision for the company and the program and to ensure that the program itself pursues this vision at every step.
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Generate Buy-In
Next, get employees excited about the talent development program. One of the best ways to do this is to clarify how the program benefits your staff. If staff feel they are getting more out of the program than they contribute, then participation will be seen as an exciting extra rather than a chore.
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Define the Program’s Goals
While many companies have talent development programs, most haven’t clearly defined the goals of the program. Ask: “What opportunities are we missing, and how can we train our staff to fill those gaps?”
For instance, your talent development program may focus on helping staff members develop new skills to enhance their current positions, or it may focus on helping them better understand the industry so they can advance more confidently.
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Design the Program Within the Context of the Business
How does the program fit into the company’s day to day business and the programs you already offer? How is the content relevant to your team’s daily tasks? How can it be presented to enhance what your staff already do, rather than detracting from it or creating an additional stressor?
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Embrace Outside Help
An outside perspective can help you spot hidden problems with a talent development program and tailor the program to grow with the changing circumstances of the U.S. workforce. Don’t hesitate to talk to a recruiter or similar professional for inside information on your industry, work trends, and best practices in talent development.
Looking to Staff Up?
At THE RIGHT STAFF, LLC, our recruiters help our Twin Cities clients find the talent they need and build the internal programs necessary to boost retention, increase engagement and develop the leadership the company will need to grow into a prosperous future. Contact us today to learn more.
