As a business owner, it does not matter if you hire two employees or a team of two hundred – you have to ensure you give them the opportunity to grow and develop, both personally and professionally. Doing so is mutually beneficial as you are allowing the employee to gain important skills they can carry into their future, whilst also ensuring they are working to the best of their ability for your company.
Here are some great ways you can help your employees grow and develop!
Sign them up for courses
The quickest way to help your employees gain new skills is by encouraging them to sign up for educational courses, online or in person. If possible, you should pay for the cost of the course or offer them a substantial discount, especially as they will be applying this new knowledge to their day-to-day work and will help your company thrive in doing so.
There are hundreds of courses to choose from, including:
- Administration courses, which can help keep your office running smoothly, even during high-pressure situations. They help employees gain necessary skills in communication (written and verbal), organization and conflict resolution.
- Social media/online marketing courses, which can put your business on the virtual map, bringing in new customers and encouraging sales. They help employees gain skills in design, content writing and digital marketing.
- GDPR training, which ensures that your employees know everything there is to know about personal data in the digital world. This can ensure that your company handles all data safely and securely and can protect your from the hefty fines that occur should you breach data handling laws.
- Project management courses, which can help a new employee take the first few steps up the ladder in your company, moving from a participant to a leader. This could be particularly useful for younger employees with less hands-on experience, who hope to take on a more senior position in the future.
- Team-building courses are great for resolving any conflict that may arise, but can also help employees build trust with their colleagues and work more efficiently as a team. Furthermore, they can be a lot of fun and a good reprieve from your typical workday.
- First-aid courses are a great way to help your employees learn skills that they can use inside and outside of the workplace. However, they also ensure your office/workplace is safe and that should an accident occur, there is somebody on site who can help resolve the situation quickly.
The above list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide valuable insight into the kind of courses that are available – each of which is designed to bring your company to the next level.
Mentorship
Another way in which you can help your employees develop necessary skills is by providing them with a mentor. Whether this means you pair them with a senior member of the company, or mentor them yourself, you’ll be surprised about how quickly they can develop new skills throughout the process.
Before deciding on a mentor, sit down and have a chat with the employee about their career goals and where they want to see themselves over the next few years. Then, if possible, pair them with a mentor who is working in a similar role. Office mentorship can also help your employees form stronger relationships with each other.
If you can’t find the ideal mentor within your company, consider reaching out to come of your industry contacts who can provide your employee with advice and guidance. This does not mean they will encourage your employee to leave their current position but will help them gain the skills they need to follow their dreams in the future.
Shadowing
Shadowing is a great way to introduce new employees to the workplace, and allow them to quickly get up to speed on how your company runs and the kind of work you expect for them. Although similar to mentoring, it may take place over a shorter period of time – such as the first few months of their employment, or until they feel comfortable to work alone.
Provide suitable training
When you have hired a new member of staff, it is likely due to the fact that you were impressed by their resume or how they presented themselves in the interview. However, despite years of experience, they may not have everything they need to succeed in their job – and may require additional training. That is why you should always ensure you have a strong training program in place for new employees, as every company functions differently, even if you are offering similar services. You cannot expect somebody to walk into a job and know exactly what to do from day one.
Once the training is complete, be sure to ask your employees for feedback on the process – as you want to ensure you are using your time efficiently. For example, did you spend too much time teaching them something they already know, and gloss over something more complex?
Listen to them
Another way in which you can help your employees gain necessary skills is by simply listening to them and asking what they need. Host regular meetings where you give them the opportunity to discuss their personal and professional development and discuss what the company can do to help them get there. For example, if an employee wants to become a manager – what steps do they need to take to get there? Do they need to take on more shifts to gain more experience? Do they need to take on more responsibility during their shifts? Do they need to do a trial shift before you promote them?
When you listen to your employees and take in their needs, they will instantly respect your more. If you want your company to succeed, you need to be invested in the success of every employee – in and out of the workplace. After all, you are all part of a team.