8 Benefits of Learning at Work

This week from 16^th – 22^nd May 2022, it has been Learning in Work Week in the United Kingdom. We thought it would be useful to reflect on the benefits of learning at work and why this is such an effective way to train employees to enable them to help them to embrace challenges and opportunities in the workplace.

At Aim Higher Training we offer accredited qualifications for individuals and businesses who wish to pursue learning while they are working.

We have found that employers encourage training on the job and embed lifelong learning into their organisations and businesses and there are obvious reasons for this approach which we will explain below.

1. Providing opportunities to upskill staff is a win-win for both employees and organisations

Training and development delivered in the workplace delivers on so many levels as employees can grow and develop new knowledge and skills. And for businesses, the advantages are huge in terms of knowing you have reliable and competent employees who can deliver for your business at all levels.

2. Employees will feel supported, valued, and motivated and will build loyalty to the business.

When businesses invest in employees’ personal and professional development the dividends are significant. Employees who feel supported and valued are more likely to work hard and feel motivated to work towards the mission and goals of a business. Vicariously this builds loyalty and commitment which in turn leads to higher levels of retention for employees and provides any business with the opportunity to create career progression pathways for talented employees.

3. Great Employee Retention

It’s been proven based on a recent survey from Linked In that up to 94% of employees are more likely to stay in a job where they feel their personal and professional development is prioritised. One of the main factors that grow employee loyalty is when employees see that their employers are investing in them as individuals and as a result, they are far more likely to stay. This investment is also more likely to lead to happier and more engaged employees – another win-win all round.

4. Employees become more flexible and adaptable

Expanding employees’ skills and knowledge makes them much more adaptable within a business. Individuals are more likely to grow in confidence and volunteer themselves for projects or new pieces of work and in time become extremely valuable to the business.

As an example, often fundamental tasks such as drafting an email within a business can delivered poorly by employees. However, if a business fails to take the time to standardise and train employees in terms of how tasks should be performed, they can often reap a negative impact on their customers.

5. Workplace training encourages the development of soft skills

Learning and development within the workplace can also help employees to develop their soft skills. Soft skills are personality traits and characteristics that are less quantifiable, but equally as important in the workplace and are rooted in behaviour, attitude, and values.

Developing communication skills, emotional intelligence, teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, time management, and personal organisation are all good examples of soft skills, and individuals who exhibit these traits are huge assets to a business.

6. Clear Career Progression

Introducing training and development opportunities in the workplace helps to create a clear structure or promotion path within a business to guide individuals’ career development.

At Aim Higher Training we offer career coaching and often find that our clients have not really thought about their career paths and have instead just fallen into job roles. After a while, they can invariably find themselves hitting a brick wall and can become demotivated and unhappy in their roles.

Taking the time to review personal skills and abilities helps individuals focus on areas for personal development and guides individuals toward building meaningful personal development plans. These can help to structure development pathways and businesses can use this process to identify and develop talent within the business so they can easily transition into senior roles.

7. Increased employee effectiveness

Well-trained employees are more likely to be effective and efficient in their roles. They feel confident and self-assured and are more likely to use their initiative to tackle problems rather than running to senior managers for support.

They are also more likely to apply creativity when tackling problems and volunteer ideas and solutions as a business grows and develops. Over time this increases the strength of a team and generates better teamwork and a sense of loyalty and belonging.

8. Learning in work time means they can try out their new skills sooner

If learning is happening in the workplace there is more likely that the skills and knowledge gained can be used quickly in the workplace. Employees will be more willing to try their newly found knowledge and skills and this, in turn, builds their confidence and adds more value to the business.

 

In summary learning in the workplace will help to develop employees to improve and grow their skill sets and become valuable assets to a business. An individual will grow more capable and confident and will start to proactively plan their personal and professional development which the business can harness and use to great advantage. Employee development can link to the growth and success of a business and successful businesses are often the ones who most value learning in the workplace as they can see the benefits firsthand.

 

If you would like to discuss how learning and training can be delivered in your business, please get in touch here.