The Future of Enterprise Professional Development – Larisa B. Miller

In 1950, the average worker changed jobs 1.3 times in their career lifetime. In 2023, statistics say that the average working person will have 12 jobs in their lifetime, often making a complete career change by 39 years old because they feel that their careers are stagnating.

The key to keeping employees happy, engaged, and committed to the company’s growth and development is through continual professional development. In order for companies to stand as vanguards of their industries or sectors, it is essential that they prioritize the continual reskilling and upskilling of their employees.

Professional development empowers employees with the tools and knowledge to stay at the forefront of industry changes, ensuring they remain competent and confident in their roles. By investing in their growth, companies not only demonstrate a genuine commitment to their workforce’s future but also foster a culture of continuous learning and engagement. This proactive approach to skill enhancement boosts employee morale, retention, and satisfaction, as individuals feel valued and better equipped to navigate the evolving challenges of their respective sectors. According to a study done by Apollo Technical, over 91% of HR professionals believe that recognition and reward make employees more likely to stay. An employee who feels valued and has been recognized by leadership for their contribution, attitude, or work ethic is 63% more likely to stay at his or her current job within the next three to six months. Valued employees work harder, stay longer and are more committed. Valuing your employees enough to continuously refine and expand their skills and capabilities builds an internal culture of trust, confidence, and loyalty.

Your employees are your most important asset. With any asset, you strive to protect it, nurture it, and help it grow so that you receive greater returns, and the human capital asset should be no different. Continuous opportunities for learning which are tailored to industry-specific advancements, emerging technologies, and the development of soft skills like leadership, communication and problem solving are cornerstones for business growth, innovation and resilience in this rapidly changing global marketplace. Making all employees, from the emerging professional to the c-suite level executives, recognize that they are an important component in a corporate culture of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and open discourse, will ensure that a business is well positioned for operational acceleration and economic vibrancy. Investing in such multifaceted development not only equips employees with tools to navigate industry transformations, but it instills a sense of belonging, respect, and value, which in turn will drive loyalty and overall business excellence.

All businesses, regardless of size, have the capacity to provide professional development opportunities to employees to develop and enhance skills and boost morale and confidence to help ensure the businesses growth. Opportunities for professional development can manifest in a myriad of opportunities, such as:

Workshops and Training sessions which address the development of specific skills and expand industry-specific knowledge. These workshops can range from technical skills development to broader skills and attributes such as, leadership, communication, storytelling, customer service and more.

Online Courses and Certifications such as Six Sigma or PMP, or through online development courses through online platforms like LinkedIn, Coursera or Udemy. Companies can sponsor registration in these courses by offering reimbursement after successful completion of the program.

Conferences and Seminars are a great way to expose your team to outside thought leadership, diverse perspectives, and industry-related innovations, while building their professional networks.

Mentorship programs within your team culture are valuable in helping employees learn, build skills, provide feedback, and share valuable insights with one another. Building a strong sense of ‘team’ and camaraderie while fostering an environment conducive to reverse mentorship, where the perspective of emerging professionals is as valued as the knowledge and perspective of the seasoned professional is important, will reduce turnover, encourage employee engagement, and yield measurable results to the bottom line.

Development of Soft Skills in your workforce – emotional intelligence, leadership, communication, and conflict resolution, are vital to a resilient work environment. Hosting workshops, providing access to online resources and encourage practical application through employee group projects or team building challenges is key.

Many companies – especially smaller-sized enterprises, will argue that they cannot afford to channel financial resources into professional development, but in truth, they can’t afford not to! Companies who provide access to training and development, constantly enhancing the qualifications of their employees experience increased productivity, reduced turnover costs, greater levels of innovation and growth – all while attracting top talent. When your employees are happy and valued, your employees feel happy and valued! The positive effects are circular!

Studies show that companies who prioritize professional development consistently outperform those who do not.