We’ve all been there. It’s either too early in the morning, or a middle of the day slump, or a 5pm twilight session. The coffee’s cold, or “this could easily have been put in an email”. There’s always something that someone will be complaining about. So how do you put on a staff development programme that kicks ass every time?!
In the rapidly evolving world of work, employees who prioritise professional development are more likely to stay ahead of the curve and succeed. With the Learning at Work Week campaign taking centre stage in the UK, it’s a great time to focus on developing key skills and gaining new knowledge. Here are some top tips on how to get the best learning and development opportunities for employees, and what makes CPD meaningful and useful.
- Start with a Personal Development Plan.– Begin by identifying the learning and development goals of each employee, and create an action plan tailored to their individual aspirations. I use the method of Appreciative Inquiry, interviewing leaders at different levels, the staff on the ground, and questionnaires to establish what’s already strong, as the method of positive psychology teaches us that by nurturing strengths, we can influence the cultivation of other areas that need strengthening. The PDP should assess current strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and establish measurable targets. Regularly revisiting and updating the PDP will help track progress and ensure continued growth.
- Encourage Continuous Learning.– fostering a culture of continuous learning helps create a positive environment that motivates employees to grow professionally. Encourage learning through workshops, online courses, mentoring programmes, and job shadowing. Offer access to resources that employees can use to develop their skills, such as industry-specific publications, books, and podcasts. Learning should be prevalent at all levels to model a culture of learning across an organisation.
- Make it relevant and rewarding.– employees will be more invested in their learning if its relevant to their job and adds value to their career. Learning programmes should be designed to address employee skill development gaps and be tied to the organisation’s goals. Recognition and rewards are also strong motivators, so consider offering incentives such as bonuses, promotions, or other perks to those who invest in their development.
- Provide real time feedback– employee feedback is paramount to effective learning and development. Managers should provide regular feedback on an employee’s goals and progress, highlighting areas for improvement and offering guidance on how to achieve them. Real-time feedback helps employees stay on track, improve their performance, and become more productive.
What makes CPD meaningful and useful?
Continuing professional development (CPD) is a process that ensures employees remain up to date in their respective fields -but what makes it truly beneficial?
- it creates competitive edge: CPD provides professionals with a competitive edge, as they are continuously upskilling and staying ahead of industry trends. This helps individuals become more valuable to their organisation, leading to career advancement opportunities.
- Reinforces the learning culture: CPD reinforces a consistent learning culture within an organisation. It encourages employees to share their expertise with others, leading to transformative growth both individually and collectively.
- Increase his confidence: participating in CPD activities increases an employee’s confidence in their abilities, translating into improved performance and productivity at work.
In summary, learning at work week is an ideal opportunity for organisations to invest in their employees by providing planned and structured learning and development opportunities to drive individual growth and business advancement. Muted Healing offers a range of coaching and consultancy packages that are bespoke for your organisation. Our learning and development training workshops specialise in bringing positive psychology to your workplace as well as nurturing a coaching culture within leadership and across the staff body. Check out the website for further details or drop us an e-mail for more information. We’d love to hear from you.
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Love this Afsar! Thank you