Why Learning and Development is a Key Driver of Employee Engagement and Growth
It’s no secret that employee engagement is a key concern for organizations; studies show that an engaged workforce supports growth through a range of benefits, including higher productivity and profitability, lower turnover, and more satisfied customers. However, despite the value of an engaged workforce, only one in three US employees is engaged, according to Gallup surveys.
Organizations that focus on learning and development (L&D) can make important strides in supporting both higher employee engagement and company growth. Providing employees with key learning and development opportunities not only builds capable, confident employees, but research shows that learning and development is a key driver of engagement. For example, In one study, 80 percent of surveyed employees said that learning and development opportunities would help them feel more engaged at work. Here are four reasons why learning and development drive employee engagement and growth.
L&D Improves Employee Retention
Investing in employee learning and development shows employees they are valued. When people feel valued, they are less likely to leave the organization. According to the LinkedIn 2018 Workplace Learning Report, 94 percent of employees said that they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development. As a company invests in the growth of its people, employees see that they can accomplish their personal growth goals within the organization, and they subsequently grow in their commitment to the company and its goals. Some examples of learning and development initiatives that support employee retention include:
- Training opportunities at various stages along specific career paths
- Skill development courses that appeal to a range of employee interests and learning styles
- Promotional opportunities that are linked to mastery of key competencies
L&D Ensures a Strong Leadership Pipeline
For an organization to grow and achieve its succession planning goals, there must be a strong pipeline of leaders ready to fill key positions. Learning and development ensures that new and existing leaders possess the knowledge and skills required to lead others. Training and development opportunities that build leadership competency include:
- Leadership development that teaches individuals how to lead themselves and lead others
- Training in soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork
- Stretch assignments and rotational opportunities that expose individuals to new processes and people
