it is an apparent fact that employees are for the most part, what makes a business prosperous. Therefore, equipping them with the right skills and abilities is vital for any company’s growth. Employee growth comes with added benefits such as loyalty, quality performance and commitment. In a bid to achieve this, managers should lead their employees through a pre-paved process and pattern. Fred Shyaka a business manager believes it’s important for managers to improve and refine their employees’ skills, as well as be supportive in developing new ones. He considers employee development an aspect that allows employees to increase their knowledge and skill set, which equips them to grow their careers and most importantly, contribute to the company’s growth. Supporting employee growth and professional development can also come about when businesses look internally and offer mentoring and coaching programs. Additionally, recent career trends have it that giving real-time and not annual feedback is more helpful for employees. Effective management The modern workforce has changed and employees no longer respond well to demands or orders, or what is known as ‘Command and Control’ management style. Rather, managers are advised to learn to co-create in tandem with their employees. This is the essence of effective leadership, which is similar to coaching or mentoring. Mireille Karera, CEO of KORA Coaching Group, a coaching and consulting company, says that coaching is a core element of growth; be it personal growth, organisational growth or economic growth. Effective leaders practise coaching as a leadership style. In a broader sense, when you lead as a coach, you involve your employees and enable them to share their views in a safe and inclusive space, she explains. “This in turn will yield greater results as they feel a sense of purpose and belonging within your organisation. The synergies stemming from a coach-like leadership style are a win-win-win environment for both the employee and the employer and the customer they serve,” says Karera. She goes on to say that one great way for businesses to keep employees satisfied and committed is to provide a platform of practice and ownership of key projects that will trigger their professional development in a tangible and measurable way. Through practical experience and involvement in key projects, inherent growth and hidden strengths will emerge. It is key to emphasise the need for expressing the mental and emotional journey. According to experts, success is 80 per cent psychology and 20 per cent skills and experience through exposure. The bulk of what we achieve is beneath the surface and in our hearts and minds. The recommendation is for managers to include learning and development programs addressing soft skills, emotional intelligence (EQ) that will help employees succeed in their careers. Some crucial skills to learn in this era are: Time management, active listening, and mastery of team dynamics including the art of communication with various key stakeholders in-person or virtually. Organisations that offer targeted training programs and intentional educational resources with personal development are known to perform better, retain their employees longer, therefore reduce staff costs and ensure stability and less disruption in the markets serve. David Hassell, a business columnist, speaker, and serial entrepreneur notes that when employees are given the tools to do their jobs well and train to advance in their careers, they are more likely to feel inspired to do their best work. And your reputation for stellar employee development might just encourage the best and brightest candidates to join your team. Taking care of your employees doesn’t simply mean offering fun happy hours or paying for lunch once a week. Each person, no matter their level or where they choose to work, wants to feel genuinely cared for. An impactful way to do this is through a commitment to support their professional advancement and personal growth, he writes.
