Establishing an Employee Learning and Development Program to Help Your Team Grow

A strong learning and development program is key to the present and future of your company. First, it can help you attract talent, since people want to work for companies that invest in them. Second, it helps employees grow in their careers, so it can make their work more enjoyable and fulfilling—helping you to retain your workers. And last, it allows your staff to acquire new skills and become better at what they do—so you’ll have a steady stream of candidates when you’re in need of new managers or have higher-level positions to fill. It’s always easier and more efficient to hire from within, since your current workers are already familiar with your company.

So to build a learning and development program, the best time to begin is right now. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top five best practices.

Five Keys to Success in Your Employee Learning and Development Plan

Here’s what you need to know:

Adapt Your Program for All Learners

People learn in different ways, and with several generations in the workforce, you’ll want to adapt your education program across your entire staff. This can include guest speakers, online or mobile options, lunch-and-learns, self-study, etc.

Provide Multiple Learning Opportunities

It can be especially difficult to fit learning opportunities into an already-hectic work schedule. But with a variety of opportunities (both on- and off-site), everyone will have the options they need to learn and grow.

Engage Management

All your supervisors and managers should understand how your learning program works, in case employees have questions. And when they don’t know the answers, your leaders should know who to direct workers to for more information.

Empower Employees to Self-Direct

What do your workers want to learn more about? Offering continuing education funding (with an upper limit) gives your staff the opportunity to seek out ways they can learn what they need know. This might include enrolling in an adult education program, taking a few credit hours at a local college, attending an informative seminar or conference, or taking an online course.

Ask for Input

Your staff should be allowed to make suggestions for learning opportunities. Hold regular meetings with management and make sure they disseminate the information down through the company. All suggestions count, and they can help make your learning program a valuable one your employees will take advantage of.

Once You Establish it—Promote it!

Your company’s education program is a great leveraging point when advertising open job opportunities. So be sure to mention it in job posts, on your website and on social media. People seek out employers who help them to be their very best.

Looking to Staff Up?

If you’re in need of new employees in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, check out Snelling Georgia Group. We’ll work with you to determine a staffing strategy that fits, and the candidates your business needs to move forward. To learn more, contact us today!

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