According to 2021 Gartner HR research, 58% of the workforce will need new skill sets to successfully perform their work. This shows the important role that upskilling can bring to your organization and current employees.
Upskilling involves training and developing your workforce. Expanding your employees’ skill sets helps your organization remain competitive.
LinkedIn’s 2021 Workplace Learning Report found that 62% of the CEOs surveyed included upskilling as a priority. Upskilling promotes employee engagement, performance, and productivity. It also increases job satisfaction and talent attraction, and retention.
Training your employees on new technologies or improved systems for work helps them excel in their jobs. This shows that you value your workforce and want to retain your current employees. It also keeps your company relevant and growing.
Implement these tips to promote upskilling within your organization.
Evaluate Your Current Employees’ Skills
Talk with the leadership team about your workforce’s skill sets. Determine which skills are present, which are needed, and where the gaps are.
Survey your employees to determine which skills they have, which skills they lack, and the improvements they would like to make. Show that your entire workforce is engaging in upskilling.
If an employee is unsure of the skills they want to develop, consider showing them what the qualifications would be if they applied for their job right now. This provides guidance for the areas your employee should focus on when upskilling.
Determine Industry Trends
Research where your industry likely will be in the next 3-10 years. Determine which skills should be the most important during this timeframe.
Pay attention to whether your current employees are equipped with these skills. Begin implementing plans to fill any gaps to keep your organization moving forward.
Develop Goals
Create realistic goals for your current employees to achieve. Continuously communicate these goals to your workforce.
Let your employees know you are investing in their development and your organization’s growth. Supporting career advancement provides a sense of security and confidence for the future.
Implement Your Plan
Determine how your upskilling plans will be implemented. This includes whether the learning and development team will be in charge, management will lead, or experts will be brought in.
Talk with your employees about how they would prefer to approach upskilling. Each employee and department likely will require specific ongoing training to develop their skills. Customizing your upskilling approach is an effective way to reach your goals.
Reevaluate Your Plan
Monitor your workforce’s progress with upskilling. For instance, set regular evaluations to determine each employee’s success. Also, hold open discussions about the effectiveness of the training. Then, make adjustments as needed.
Continue to reevaluate and improve your upskilling plan. This helps your employees reach their goals and keep your company competitive.
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