The future of business is unlocking what’s already there
Businesses have to adapt to change as a matter of course. It’s how that’s achieved which sets the good leaders apart from the rest.
Understanding and developing the current workforce is key. Times of disruption can leave employees feeling uneasy, so it is important to keep them engaged and motivated; as well as listening to any potential issues and seeking to address them.
Yet it is equally as crucial to ensure talent isn’t going wasted. As organisations seek to become more agile, they need to develop the skills of those already working for them.
People want development
Now, more than ever, employees value the opportunity to learn and grow as a major factor in being happy in their job. Those that aren’t given the chance to do this will simply look elsewhere. Especially if they are talented.
This is a loss that companies just cannot afford to have. Too often the thinking is that new talent needs to be hired to progress - rather than looking within.
But this is expensive and time-consuming. And could also leave talent already in the team feeling underappreciated and devalued.
As well as being paid what they are worth, people want fulfillment in their jobs. This will provide them with more creativity and energy at work which, in turn, will help growth within the business.
What is the solution?
In simple terms, organisations need a good skills development programme. This then needs to be given the time and resources to actually succeed.
It cannot be viewed by leadership as a distraction to the usual workload. Otherwise it will never fulfill its aim.
How to achieve this:
- Offer new responsibilities - Employees might not always put themselves forwards for this, but would relish the opportunity. Make it achievable.
- Get their opinion - Listening to ideas from across the workforce is great for motivation and can produce excellent results.
- Give help where needed - Changes at work can take time to adapt to, but good leaders will be there to give assistance and guidance.
- Really listen - To any problems and issues that may arise. And try and come up with workable solutions to them.
- Reward and encourage - Always give praise for good performance and ensure that the right person is receiving it.
- Share your goals - Employees who understand the bigger context of what they are working towards will take more pride in it being a success.
The success of a business is not just about headhunting and recruiting the right people. It’s also about committing to developing those already within the company, allowing them to build their knowledge, unlock their skills, and fulfill their potential.
The best talent may already be there, they just need to be given the right platform and tools to demonstrate it.
By Tom Seymour, an online content writer for alterniq inspired growth.
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