In today’s ever-changing business landscape, it is critical that leaders turn their attention towards upskilling their employees to thrive in 2023 and beyond. If we’ve learnt anything from the last three years, it’s that we can’t underestimate the value of preparing for rapid change. Organisations need to not only address the unique challenges of the current business world, but equip their teams to adapt and restrategise on quick demand.
The rapid change over the recent years has been transformational to the working world. By far the most pivotal factor has been the acceleration of technological innovation, and with that, the hybrid and remote work models that so many organisations have adopted. The demands that have come with digitisation are still proving challenging for many workforces. It’s become evident that the only way to tackle these challenges is through effective integrated learning programs that put upskilling and agility at the forefront of their content and delivery.
Key Workplace Trends to Prioritise in 2023
In this article, we will explore some of the key workplace learning trends that leaders will need to hone in on if they plan to thrive in 2023 and overcome the obstacles this year will present.
Commitment to company culture
A culture of learning goes far beyond learning programs. Without engagement and application in the workplace, learning programs become a waste of effort and resources. In order to foster a culture of learning, employees need to feel connected to the business, dedicated to its success along with their own personal development. According to a universal ADP study, more than 70% of employees considered shifting careers entirely in 2022. This exposes a major problem in today’s working world, as employers battle to not only attract top talent, but also retain them.
The need for a culture of commitment to the company is key as organisations strategise for the new year. How can culture become strategy? Simply put, businesses are not going to receive commitment if they aren’t willing to give it. It is vital that businesses communicate their culture through everyday processes, behaviours and practices. Once you’ve got this right, then you can introduce learning programs that are backed by the skills defined by these practices.
Learning is an essential element of a strong, sustainable culture. Delivered effectively, it should encourage employee engagement and ultimately drive business results. A successful learning and development facilitator will have the skills needed to connect your company culture to strategy. This strategy should implement individual learning journeys for employees, optimised to their roles and diverse learning needs. Commitment to the personal development of your employees is what will lead to the retention of your best talent.
Agility for innovation
The need for skills that accelerate agility is not a new one. Although the pandemic may have fast-tracked digitisation, technological transformation was already well underway. However, the working world is now fully awake to the necessity of this fundamental soft skill.
A McKinsey & Company survey on innovation in a crisis brings to light the very real opportunity to continue to thrive even in a space of disruption. Organisations that set their sights on innovation even through the Great Recession ending in 2009 outperformed the market average by more than 30%. Innovating in a volatile environment cannot be done without agility. This skill is an unparalleled competitive edge.
Digging deeper, we have to ask ourselves what actually defines an agile team? In today’s world, a successful workforce is one that can reskill, as well as upskill. Not only is it becoming necessary to replace skills that are no longer valuable, but employees are faced with the pressure to offer a large variety of skills in demand. This is because businesses are much more in tune with the need for soft skills in addition to technical skills. How do we get employees equipped with these all-important skills? Scalable, personalised learning programs that support a culture of learning.
Customised delivery solutions
In an ever-evolving world, success cannot materialise without skills development. The successful integration of learning programs is how businesses will achieve their goals. And while your organisation’s learning solutions must align with your strategy and company culture, they must also consider the shift towards hybrid work.
In order to design a learning solution that can scale across all business functions, you need to consider more than simply the value of the content, but also the delivery of the programs. No two learners are the same, and so naturally, if your goal is for each employee to get full value from the program, delivery solutions need to be customised in order to meet them where they are. Your learning strategy needs to take both the organisation as a whole, as well as the individual learner into account. This means adapting delivery to various learning styles, business roles, and skill gaps.
We’ve found that the best way to approach learning is by putting employees in charge of their own development. Provide self-paced, bite-sized lessons that give learners the opportunity to take ownership of their growth. These lessons should be tailored to each unique employee’s needs, and in conjunction with any in-person, immersive, practical learning that is necessary for the role.
The future continues to present new challenges for organisations as the business landscape rapidly evolves. To thrive in this environment, leaders must prioritise a culture of learning that encourages employee engagement and drives business results. A successful learning and development program will equip your employees to reskill and upskill as the demands of the working world change.
Reach out to Summit today and let’s talk about how our integrated learning approach will ensure that you, as well as your employees are prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.