The 7 Key Elements of Effective Skills Building - A Comprehensive Guide by LearningTribe

In today's rapidly evolving workplace, effective skills development is crucial. However, many organisations struggle with engagement and success in their skills initiatives. As L&D pros, we know that this approach needs to be holistic and I personally often get asked how do we ensure that it is.?

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In this blog post, I’d like to share LearningTribe’s seven key elements to incorporate into any effective skills development strategy with you.??

Not only will I break down each of these elements for you, but I will also share with you an example of how we do this in the companies that we work with. I will do this with an example of an FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company, "FreshFusion,".??

Goal Alignment: It's essential to align skills development with both organisational goals and individual needs. This alignment ensures that learning initiatives contribute to the overall success of the organisation while also resonating with employees' personal and career aspirations. When people see how their growth aligns with the company's direction, they're more likely to be engaged and committed.?

At FreshFusion, as an FMCG company, they want to be known for their innovative approach to employee development, and aligning organisational goals with individual growth is key. Here's how they achieve this:?

• Job Family Approach: FreshFusion groups roles into job families, each with skills aligning with the employee's role and the company's broader objectives.?
• Skill Alignment Examples: For instance, the marketing job family emphasises skills from digital advertising to strategic planning, mirroring FreshFusion's aim for market expansion.?
• Individual Development Plans (IDPs): Employees receive personalised IDPs that evolve with their career progression, aligning their personal growth with the organisation's evolving needs.?
• Career Progression and Organisational Goals: This integration of tailored skills into IDPs ensures that employees enhance their careers while actively contributing to FreshFusion's success.?

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Multifaceted Development: Multifaceted Development in employee growth means offering a variety of learning methods beyond traditional training. This approach includes formal courses, on-the-job experiences, mentorship, and project collaborations, allowing employees to learn in ways that align with their individual styles and career goals. It integrates learning into daily work, making development an ongoing, natural part of the work experience.?

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At FreshFusion, the selection of diverse development modes is carefully tailored to suit the needs and preferences of each employee, ensuring a personalised and effective employee experience:?

• Choice in Online Courses: Employees are offered online learning that align with their interests and career goals. While a sales executive may opt for advanced negotiation techniques, an IT technician at FreshFusion might select courses in emerging tech fields such as artificial intelligence or cybersecurity.?
• Customised Mentoring: Mentoring sessions are matched based on the employee's career aspirations and learning style, facilitating the practical application of skills.?
• Project Selection Based on Interests: Employees are encouraged to participate in cross-functional projects that resonate with their professional interests or areas they wish to explore.?
• Integrated Development Paths: The combination of these learning modes is designed to fit seamlessly into the employees' daily work, providing flexibility and ongoing opportunities for growth.?

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Accessible Development: Accessibility to development resources is vital. Ensuring that employees can easily find and access learning materials in their day-to-day work environment allows for seamless integration of learning into the workflow. When resources are readily available, employees are more likely to utilise them and incorporate learning into their daily routines.?

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In implementing Accessible Development, FreshFusion focuses on making learning resources readily available and easily integrated into the daily workflow:?

• Centralised Learning Platform: FreshFusion has an integrated Learning Management System (LMS) that is accessible through all employee systems and mobile devices. The LMS offers a user-friendly online platform where employees can access deveopment, from training videos to e-books, anytime and anywhere.?
• Mobile Access: All development resources are accessible via a mobile app, allowing employees to engage with content on-the-go, fitting learning into their busy schedules.?
• Integrating Learning with Work Tools: Development resources are integrated within commonly used work tools, such as the CRM – SalesForce, making it easy for employees to access learning materials without leaving their work environment.?
• Regular Updates and Notifications: Employees receive regular updates and notifications about new resources and learning opportunities, encouraging them to continuously explore and utilise available materials.?

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Feedback Systems: Effective feedback systems incorporate feedback from various sources – managers, mentors, coaches and peers. Managers, mentors and coaches play a critical role in development conversations, focusing on skill-related feedback. Peer feedback systems contribute diverse perspectives, offering insights into collaborative skills. All this feedback is then integrated into customised Individual Development Plans (IDPs), ensuring that each employee's development journey is tailored to address the feedback received from multiple angles.?

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These feedback systems were leveraged by FreshFusion by incorporating a 360 feedback tool that already existed within their HR/people management platform. This platform brought together:??

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• Manager Feedback from regular development meetings where managers provide targeted feedback on skills relevant to the employee's current and future roles.?

• Peer Feedback Mechanisms where employees receive constructive feedback from their colleagues, offering a broad view of their collaborative and interpersonal skills.?
• Customised IDPs that allowed integration of feedback from managers, coaches, mentors, and peers into each employee's IDP, creating a personalised and comprehensive development plan that addresses all aspects of their performance and growth potential.?

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Self-Assessment: Encouraging employees to self-assess their skills fosters a sense of ownership over their development. This process allows individuals to identify their strengths, recognise areas needing improvement, set personal goals, and track their progress, leading to more focused and motivated learning.?

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At FreshFusion, self-assessment is a key component of employee development, facilitated through a comprehensive tool integrated into their HR system:?

• Integrated Self-Assessment Tool: Employees have access to a user-friendly self-assessment tool as part of the 360-degree feedback system, enabling them to evaluate their skills.?
• Identification of Strengths and Weaknesses: This tool helps employees pinpoint their strengths and areas needing development, fostering a deeper understanding of their professional capabilities.?
• Goal Setting Aligned with Career Aspirations: Using insights from the self-assessment, employees set personal development goals that align with their career trajectory within FreshFusion, ensuring a focused approach to their growth.?

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Growth Mindset: Incorporating a growth mindset into skill-building fundamentally transforms an organisation's learning culture. This mindset encourages persistence and effort, emphasising that skills can be developed and enhanced through dedicated practice. Reflective practices become a norm, allowing employees to learn from every experience. Support and resources for ongoing development are made readily available, and importantly, this culture of growth and development is exemplified by people leaders in each interaction with their teams.??

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At FreshFusion, fostering a growth mindset for skill-building is centred around:?

• Structured Support for Navigating Challenges: FreshFusion provides specific programs and resources, like problem-solving workshops and team brainstorming sessions, to help employees tackle challenges effectively and view them as opportunities for skill development.?
• Reflective Practice and Recognition: Integrating regular reflection sessions into work routines, coupled with a culture that recognises and rewards resilience and effort in skill development.?
• Leadership Role Modelling: Company leaders actively participate in development programs, setting a powerful example of continuous learning and growth.?
• Dedicated Resources and Feedback Tools: Provision of comprehensive learning materials and mentorship programs alongside advanced feedback tools to promote open communication and continuous improvement.?

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Time Investment: Consistent investment in skills development is more effective than irregular, intensive training sessions. Encouraging employees to dedicate regular time to learning ensures the development of skills in a more sustainable and integrated manner.?

At FreshFusion, time investment in skills development is strategically implemented:?

• Scheduled Learning Hours: Employees are allocated specific hours each week dedicated solely to skill development activities, ensuring regular and consistent learning.?
• 'Learning Fridays' Initiative: The last few hours of every Friday are set aside for employees to engage in training programs or personal development projects.?
• Manager-Supported Learning Time: Managers actively encourage team members to take time out of their regular tasks for skill enhancement, emphasizing its importance.?
• Project-Based Learning: Employees are given opportunities to work on real-world projects that require the application of new skills, blending learning with practical experience.?

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By integrating these seven elements, organisations can create a more dynamic, effective, and engaging skills development strategy. This approach not only enhances individual performance but also drives overall organisational growth and adaptability.?

In the example - FreshFusion creates an environment where skills development is not only strategic and targeted but also employee-centric and ingrained in the everyday fabric of the company.??

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Let's embrace these elements to build a learning culture that empowers individuals and propels organisations forward.??

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?? Over to You: How can integrating these elements change the learning landscape in your organisation? Share your thoughts and experiences, and let's learn together! ???

?? Need personalised guidance? Book a free Skills Development Call with us to explore a tailored approach for your organisation.?

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You can click the link below https://calendly.com/ravinab/skills-development or scan the QR code to book a call.?

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