Why Professional Development is So Important for Your Team

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” – Harvey S. Firestone. 

People say that great leaders are great learners. As a business owner, cultivating that love of learning in others and harnessing it to benefit your employees and business is smart. It could be even more important now in this time of upheaval and change. Professional development enhances employee loyalty, performance, and personal growth while increasing productivity and your bottom line. In short, it’s good for business.

Organizations that have a skilled, forward-thinking staff can not only survive but thrive – even in a world of ever-evolving technology and increased global competition. And, your team will be more committed and happier. Studies show that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company that invests in their careers. 

Wondering where to start? Let’s take a look at how you can leverage a professional development plan today.

Employee Training vs. Professional Development.

What’s the Difference?

Employee training takes many forms. New hires require operational and corporate cultural training. Maybe you need to introduce a new concept to a working group, or your entire team needs training on a newly installed computer system. These critical learning opportunities fill in gaps. They help your day to day operations run more smoothly. 

Professional development goes further and looks forward. It increases an employee’s value and ensures they learn new skills to remain relevant in their industry. Through a combination of approaches, employees can manage their own educational and professional growth plans. Learning opportunities for different competencies and strengths allow for more flexibility and provide value to employers. 

4 Ways to Foster Professional Development 

As you consider your professional development program, it’s important to remember that the goal is to shape a more efficient, competitive, and engaged workforce. It should work to increase employee retention, empowerment, and engagement and build future leaders.

Here’s how.

1. Target soft skills. Employers value soft skills, such as emotional intelligence and work ethic. Team-building activities, establishing mentor and peer relationship programs, and career coaching can go a long way to foster personal growth that will benefit your business.
2. Personalize employee development. Take the time to meet with employees, perhaps during their yearly review, to identify goals and strategies for their own personal and professional growth. Ask key questions such as “Where do you want to be in 5 years?” or “What new skills do you want to master?”. Schedule ways to check-in on their progress. SMART goals will keep employees motivated and engaged with an eye on advancement.
3. Embrace digital learning. Partnering with e-learning platforms to advance professional development that benefits your employees and business is a winning solution. These flexible, engaging, and many times FREE courses offer endless possibilities. Identify digital resources that align with your strategic development plan. Check out MIT’s Open Course Ware, IBEX IT courses, or edX, to name a few.
4. Create a strategic development plan for your company. If you can offer career progression at your company, partly through professional development, you can retain your employees longer. By identifying your company’s current needs and future goals, you can create a targeted and relevant professional development plan. A tuition assistance program is also helpful. However, without focus, it may not create the results you are looking for. If you plan well, you can use your course structure and development activities not only to advance skills, but also to drive the culture of your company. 

At Jidan Cleaning, we know how important education is for both our team and our clients. That’s why we have a rigorous employee training program to ensure our service is always top-notch and up to today’s standards. So, while you’re busy creating a professional development plan, we can help you tackle the dirty work. Let us manage the cleaning, disinfecting, and supply-stock-up services you need to create a healthy and comfortable place of business. 

Contact us to learn more about how our team can support your team.