The changes in the workforce have made it seem like growth in the workplace is nearly impossible. Technology, demographics, and a shifting economy are redefining the way we work. This change is reshaping what it means to learn on the job in both formal and informal ways.
There’s nothing more important than having a strong team, and it’s your job as an employer to ensure you have all the tools you need to build a successful one. One way to do this is by rethinking how you approach workplace learning and development.
Many companies are increasingly looking to technology as a way to improve their employees’ skills and productivity for growth in the workplace. They’re using a variety of tools and platforms, from virtual classrooms to boot camps, all to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the workplace.
But what does this mean for learning? Are we entering a new era of online education? And if so, how will it change the way we learn?
Most people think of learning as something you do in school, but the truth is that we learn all the time, whether or not we’re sitting in a classroom. And sometimes, that learning takes place in the workplace. Workplace learning and development can be incredibly effective at helping people develop their skills and improve their performance. But like any good teacher, it needs to be done right to have the desired effect.
The 21st-century workplace skills were never considered in previous years. Ordinarily, many people would have expected graduates to know their jobs, and that’s all they needed to succeed. But right now, without some core soft skills, you can hardly find a good job.
It leads us to the question, “Where did it all start from?” The Covid-19 pandemic incredibly shook the workforce. Organizations were forced to allow their employees to work from home and communicate over both short and long distances.
This situation was especially tough for organizations whose employees had zero knowledge of how remote work was meant to be done. That’s how employees who couldn’t keep up with the trends fell through. Companies must understand that learning new skills in the workplace is necessary. And this is the only way growth in the workplace can be achieved effectively.
What does it mean when you have an employee who knows the ins and outs of their job? It means they’re able to perform well in their role, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be able to thrive in the future.
But instead of focusing on just the here and now, we could also teach our employees how to adapt and improve over time. We could help them grow into better versions of themselves—and better teammates—and make sure that they’re ready for whatever comes next.
This is where reskilling comes in. Reskilling refers to any kind of training or education that helps people develop new skills or learn new things about themselves or their work environment. It can be formal, informal, or both. Although formal learning is still an important part of the process, it isn’t solving a lot of problems at this point.
With new technologies and digital tools available to us, employees can learn at any time, virtually anywhere. And that means that many people are choosing to spend their time in informal ways by learning through networks and relationships instead of formal training programs.
1) Boost communication: Whether you provide hybrid or remote work or your employees are already back in the physical office, you’ll need to ensure that effective communication is encouraged. Employers should let their employees know what learning strategies will be put in place for them to increase growth in the workplace.
2) Use technology as a tool: Another tip is to maximize the use of technology in learning programs. Instead of long and exhausting meetings, employers can seek out better technology programs to assist their employees in learning. Companies should also ask questions to determine the different ways their staff prefer to learn before making a final decision.
3) Learning new skills for the workplace: This tip goes for both academic institutions and work organizations. They need to teach graduates and staff about the 21st-century workplace skills that are needed to succeed in any job. Both hard and soft skills should be covered. This will help employees prepare for whatever comes next so they can easily adapt.
Increasing growth in the workplace boils down to so many factors, and workplace learning is one of them. Organizations have to keep up with trends and prepare their workforce for whatever the future holds by implementing effective learning strategies.
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