Learning and development: Why it’s essential in the modern workplace

Learning and development has always been an important means of strengthening employee capability to get the most out of your workforce. However, in the modern age, it’s becoming more and more of a non-negotiable for employees.

The 2023 Talent Index from Cornerstone OnDemand highlighted the increasing desire employees have for skills development in the workplace. In fact, the report revealed that 41 per cent of employees don’t believe they have what they need to develop their skills. Furthermore, 65 per cent of employees are seeking additional learning content, 62 per cent are keen on more coaching and mentoring, and 59 per cent are seeking more career guidance.

The benefits of skills development should not be understated, and with employees clearly keen on receiving these opportunities, offering these benefits is a great way to engage, attract, retain, and strengthen a company’s workforce.

Mike Bollinger, global vice-president of strategic initiatives at Cornerstone OnDemand, listed several benefits of effective skills development for an individual:

• Skill advancement
• Career advancement
• Enhanced job satisfaction
• Adaptability to change
• Enhanced problem-solving
• Personal fulfilment

Further, there are benefits that can be felt across the whole business, such as:

• Increased productivity
• Cost reduction
• Enhanced communication
• Alignment with company goals
• Innovation and creativity
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Brand reputation
• Risk mitigation
• Market expansion
• Higher quality products/services
• Social responsibility
• Spur innovation

The specific skills required at an organisation will vary, of course. However, there are a few in-demand skills that can help any organisation to stay efficient.

“The specific skills required will vary based on the role and industry. It’s essential for a candidate to review job descriptions and research the specific skills in demand by industry. Employers are typically seeking a combination of technical, soft, and transferable skills in potential employees,” said Mr Bollinger.

“Things like technical literacy, critical thinking and digital resiliency are crucial as adaptive behaviours … Resilience, flexibility, and agility; curiosity and lifelong learning; and motivation and self-awareness are top of mind — all of which reflect the ongoing importance of continuous learning.”

Seven essential employment skills listed by Mr Bollinger are:

1. Positive attitude
2. Communication
3. Teamwork
4. Self-management
5. Willingness to learn
6. Thinking skills
7. Resilience

Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect between employers’ and employees’ perceptions of skills development capability. The 2023 Talent Index found that 88 per cent of employers globally feel confident in their ability to develop skills within their organisation, while just 59 per cent of employees agreed. The same goes for resources to develop skills, with 90 per cent of employers believing they have the necessary resources to develop skills compared to just 61 per cent of employees.

Organisations that put the time and effort into curating an effective learning and development program can ensure they’re getting the most out of their employees while keeping them happy, engaged, and motivated.