Upskilling

What is upskilling and how does it affect professional growth?

Upskilling, or learning enhanced skills, refers to the act of training employees in skills and competencies that improve their productivity, accelerate their professional growth and keep them competitive in the world of work. Upskilling is usually a process of improving an employee’s existing skills – in other words, building upon an existing foundation and ‘leveling up’ – which allows them to optimize their performance within a company.

The impact of upskilling on professional growth is undeniable. Professionals who invest time and effort into acquiring and honing skills become more valuable assets to their employers, able to confidently advance their careers and play a range of different roles within a company.

Thanks to ongoing digitization and the emergence of new technologies, upskilling has become increasingly important in recent times. By helping their employees to stay up to date and specialize in specific skills, companies can reduce the digital talent gap and successfully fill new vacancies with their existing workforce.

The benefits of investing in upskilling in your team

Investing in upskilling brings an array of benefits for both employees and their companies. Some of the most notable include:

Improvement in productivity

Employees with advanced skills tend to be more efficient in their roles, leading to an increase in the company’s overall productivity.

Talent retention

A professional who feels that their employers care about their growth, and give them tools to continue developing in the company, tends to remain loyal to the organization in the long term.

Enhanced competitiveness

A trained and up to date workforce is simply far more competitive in the labor market. When professionals have the skills they need to achieve objectives efficiently, they feel empowered. As they face and overcome new challenges, the growth of a company skyrockets, making it that much more competitive and ensuring that it stands out amongst others.

Adaptation to change

Upskilling allows employees and the wider organization to respond and adapt to technological changes in the market, thereby remaining relevant.

Innovation

Finally, teams with advanced skills are better positioned to drive innovation and the development of new products and services within their company.

4 steps to design an effective upskilling program for your employees

1. Assess existing skills

It’s essential to start by identifying your team’s current skills, as well as any areas that require improvement. This will help you design a relevant program that is tailored to their needs.

2. Define your objectives

Once those needs have been identified, you’ll need to establish clear objectives for your upskilling program. At this stage, you should identify the specific skills that you want your employees to acquire or improve.

3. Choose the right learning resources

Selecting the ideal learning methods is also important. These resources can include online courses, on-the-job training, webinars, and more.

4. Monitor and evaluate progress

Monitoring employee progress is a crucial step in a successful upskilling program. This will help you evaluate the effectiveness of the program and make adjustments where necessary.

Investing in upskilling benefits both employees and companies, but unlocking these benefits requires you to design an effective program tailored to the specific needs of your organization. If you’re looking to develop an upskilling plan for your team, then isEazy Skills can help – we put our whole catalog of digital and soft skills courses at your fingertips, to give your staff the keys to success. Request a free trial today, and start taking advantage of the most complete training programs on the market.