Importance of Skills Development and Training

In the dynamic tech world, we are living, things are constantly changing, and leveling up. To match the pace, the professionals working in the IT sector are also required to be updated with recent technologies and trends. For you to have proficient work output, you and your employees need to be better skilled and better equipped so that you can enhance your performance. 

Moreover, individuals these days consider their professional growth a major concern when they are looking for a new workplace. Studies show that employee satisfaction and retention tend to be influenced by the possibility of professional and personal growth of the employees in the company. This eventually results in higher productivity, better performance, and employee loyalty.

A company needs to know that skills development and training are one of the most important factors you need to work on if you’re looking to increase employee engagement in your firm. 

Importance of skills development and training

One thing that an organization needs to understand is that the overall performance is the result of the individual achievements of each of the employees. And that importance becomes much more pertinent in the context of the IT sector as the professionals need to keep up with the constant change in the industry. There is much more an organization can gain from its little investment in the betterment of the skills development and training programs for its employees. 

Some of the importance of skills development and training in Nepali software industry are mentioned down below:

● Enhanced employee performance

In research, almost all the employees agree that skills development and training programs help them in their job performances by equipping them with the right skills and training. Through these training and development programs, employees can learn new skills, and knowledge, and develop competencies that are essential to enhance their work performances.

If we are talking about the software development industry as one needs to stay updated and needs to acquire technical skills. And in Nepal, the education system does not provide much practical knowledge. That is why software companies in Nepal need to prioritize training and development sessions for their employees to support their growth and performance. Companies can experience a lot of plus points and major improvements in their employee’s work performance by making investments in their skills development and training. 

● Better employee satisfaction and retention

As mentioned earlier, personal and professional growth is a major factor that attracts the employees especially, the recent generation. If the employees see the potential growth and support in an organization, they will likely view it as an asset. Such training and development facilities equip them with the necessary skills in the industry and better their performance. This way the employees better connect with their work and the company. And that ultimately improves employee satisfaction and retention. With such values provided the employees’ performance and engagement improve and there’s much less employee turnover.   

● Adaptability 

There is much more need to stay up to date with the new technologies and market trends when it comes to the IT sector. The IT sector or software development industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Nepal with more and more professionals and companies adding to the existing industry.

Now, to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to the new market trends, the employees need to be better informed and updated on the current technologies and practices. Companies should focus on qualifying their employees with skills training and development programs to prepare a better workforce. So that the organization can easily adjust to shifting business requirements and maintain its competitiveness in the market.

● Enhanced innovation

Training and development programs are much more than enhancing skills, it is about creating a mindset and encouraging growth. Sometimes all an individual needs are that push, be it motivation or required skill sets. Skills development training does just that. Employees can be encouraged to study and acquire new skills and knowledge through such training.

This can help the employees to contribute innovative concepts and unique viewpoints to their job. And this mindset brings endless possibilities. Who knows, maybe the company might come up with better ideas for new products, services, or solutions through such sessions. 

● Better work culture

Organizations providing facilities to their employees through such training and development plans and programs can be seen as the firm creating value for their employees. Company work culture is a major thing in the work industry these days with popular organizations investing more and more in improving employee satisfaction.

It is important how an organization treat its employees. And businesses that place a high priority on skills development and training show their staff that they are appreciated and valued. This can support the organization in creating an organizational culture that values learning, development, and growth. In addition, this can also increase employee retention and even attract new talents. 

● Improved workplace safety

The time we all are living in is such a data-driven world where every move creates data. Depending on the nature of the industry and work, there is an equal amount of threat of data piracy comes in. And if we are talking about IT companies or software development companies, these sectors involve a high degree of risk for data security and requirements for safety protocols. So, the companies can provide training and learning sessions educating their employees about such threats and enriching them with the knowledge to prevent such situations. 

How can companies help employees with training and development?

Now that we have gone through the question of why is it important for a company to invest in employees’ skills development and training, let us now see how can companies do it exactly.

● Identify training needs

While thinking of a solution you always need to question yourself “why?” Why exactly are you searching for the solution and why is that a problem in the first place? Training and skills development opportunities are crucial but what are you trying to solve with such sessions? The company can first evaluate the present skill level of the employee and determine areas in which they might need help or instructions. In this part, performance reviews, employee feedback, and consultations with the supervisor or manager could aid a lot in terms of the overall performance of the employee. 

● Provide regular training opportunities 

Continuous learning and development opportunities can help equip employees with different skills and knowledge that can help them with their personal and professional. So, along with the skills that they require for their core job assigned to them, the companies might as well provide their employees with different opportunities for training programs for various skill sets. The companies can regularly provide workshops, seminars, online courses, and webinars for their employees. This can be done internally or in collaboration with outside training companies.

● Offer career development programs 

For an employee to be connected with the organization, the organization first needs to make its employee feel safe and positive in terms of their career development. Companies can design and offer career development programs for their employees. This can be done through reflection sessions, mentoring, and coaching which would help the employees to develop their professional selves. 

● Provide access to better tools and technologies

As an employee in a software development firm, you need that technical knowledge and skills to outperform the competition. So, what a software development company can do to help its employee in regards to this aspect is provide its employees with access to better tools and technologies that can help them in their job performance. In addition, they can also assist them in providing knowledge about the latest technologies and their applications through training and development programs. 

● Encourage self-directed learning 

Self-directed learning for an individual creates a purpose for themselves which encourages the one to take ownership of their growth and pursue the learning opportunities for their interests and goals. In a working environment, employees become more engaged and motivated in their job and develop sense of purpose and fulfillment through self-directed learning. Here, what the companies can do is provide their employees with required resources like libraries, technologies, and different courses regarding their interests maybe courses for programing language, self-development sessions, etc. 

● Encourage participation in industry events 

Training and development of the employee are all about empowering your employees for their professional and personal growth through different forms of assistance. The company can provide opportunities and support to their employees to attend different seminars and business conferences, trade exhibitions, and networking events. Through such events, the employees might get the opportunity to network with peers and professionals in the industry and also gain insights into new technologies and market trends. 

● Create a culture of growing through learning 

As we discussed before, training and development in an organization are about creating a mindset. Through such approaches and sessions, the organization can lead its employees towards a value and a growth mindset. These can be small initiations that can create a significant difference like recognizing the efforts of employees that invest in their growth, providing feedback, celebrating the achievements of the employees, and just creating a workspace that commends growth and learning. 

Conclusion

Considering everything we discussed, skills development and training are very crucial not only for the employees but for an organization as a whole. The skills development and training approaches build a stronger team and help each individual working in that team which helps the firm to remain competitive in their industry. This helps organizations to boost productivity, efficiency, and quality by enhancing the skills and knowledge of their workforce.

A company that invests in the development of its employees shows that they value each of its team members which eventually  improves the satisfaction and engagement of the employees. Motivated and loyal employees mean lower turnovers, less absenteeism, and boosted productivity with better performance. This creates an business ecosystem that supports a culture of constant learning, innovation, and improvement. And with that comes better employee retention while also attracting new talents and creating a bigger and stronger team. This can result in sustainable growth and success.