Why Personal Development of Employees is an HR Responsibility

"Why should HR bother about personal development? Isn’t that a self-help bookshelf problem?"

If you've ever thought this or heard someone in your organization say it, let me introduce you to the elephant in the room: Personal development is not just an individual pursuit; it's a corporate investment.

Today, we’re going to explore why HR must champion personal development, the tangible and intangible benefits it brings to organizations, and how fostering growth at a human level shapes the workplace into a hub of innovation, resilience, and connection.

And, because we’re all human (yes, even HR professionals), let’s pepper in a bit of humor and relatability.

The Role of HR: Beyond Payroll and Policies

HR has often been called the “heartbeat” of an organization, and rightly so. While ensuring employees are paid on time and that company policies are followed is crucial, the real magic happens when HR aligns its focus on empowering people.

Imagine HR as the chef in a Michelin-starred kitchen. The ingredients (employees) are excellent, but it’s the chef’s guidance, seasoning, and attention to detail that turn them into something extraordinary. That’s what personal development programs do—they season and enhance the potential that already exists.

Why Should HR Care About Personal Development?

Employee Growth Fuels Organizational Growth

Research by Gallup shows that organizations that invest in personal development report 21% higher profitability and 17% higher productivity than those that don’t.

Why? Because when employees grow as individuals, their skills, motivation, and contributions expand in ways that directly impact company goals. During my 15 years of experience imparting learning and during my time with treening, I’ve seen firsthand how growth-focused coaching and training can unlock employee potential, transforming them into invaluable assets for their teams and organizations.

It’s a Retention Strategy That Works

Let’s face it: the job market is a buffet, and your employees are hungry for more. A LinkedIn Learning report revealed that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in their career development.

People want to feel valued, challenged, and invested in. If HR overlooks personal development, the only development they’ll witness is employees updating their LinkedIn profiles. If your organization is losing talented employees, it might be time to ask: "Are we investing enough in their personal growth?" Through customized programs and workshops, we can help you create a learning culture that keeps employees engaged and invested in your company’s success.

The Ripple Effect of Confidence and Resilience

When employees develop soft skills like emotional intelligence, leadership capabilities, and adaptability, it ripples across teams.

• Conflict resolution becomes proactive, not reactive.
• Collaboration becomes smoother.
• Resilience becomes a shared team trait rather than an individual survival skill.

By humanizing development, HR creates not just better employees, but stronger humans.

The Human Case: Who Are These Employees Anyway?

Your employees are more than just job titles or email signatures. They’re people with dreams, fears, and sometimes, a lingering suspicion that they left the stove on at home.

Investing in personal development means recognizing their humanity. It’s acknowledging that:

• The intern working late has aspirations of being a leader one day.
• The middle manager juggling spreadsheets and meetings is struggling to find balance in life.
• The senior executive could use a mindset shift to keep their spark alive.

When HR takes this empathetic approach, it tells employees: You matter. Not just your KPIs or your deadlines, but YOU. And if you require assistance in doing so, I design solutions that address these unique needs, ensuring your team feels seen and supported at every level.

How HR Can Champion Personal Development

Create Opportunities for Growth

• Introduce mentorship programs that pair junior employees with seasoned leaders - This helps leaders role-model ownership and an empowering attitude towards their company, inspiring junior employees to envision growth with the company. Want to learn more about how mentorship programs can be designed to work? feel free to reach out.
• Offer access to courses on leadership, mindfulness, or technical skills through platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. Or you can allow us at treening to custom design learning that is embedded in your company's culture; in-person and digitally.
• Bring in experts for workshops on emotional intelligence, communication, and resilience. Allow people like us to assist you in providing the best possible growth which is inline with your company's vision, and helps foster a culture of enhanced productivity.

Build a Culture of Feedback

Personal development thrives in an environment where feedback is constructive and continuous. HR can lead by training managers to deliver feedback that inspires growth rather than instilling fear. Getting your managers to go through leadership coaching is one of the proven techniques to build this culture and uplift personal development for employees.

Prioritize Wellbeing

Personal development isn’t just about learning—it’s about thriving. Initiatives like mental health support, flexible work arrangements, and mindfulness sessions show employees that their holistic development matters. One of the key factors I have always kept in mind while incorporating treening is that we focus on integrated and holistic development. Our workshops and retreats have a massive focus in mindfulness practices and healing, aligned with leadership mindset coaching that nurture employees’ skill development and wellbeing simultaneously.

Gamify Development

Let’s admit it: we all love a good leaderboard. Whether it’s recognizing employees who complete certain training modules or awarding points for community-building activities, gamifying development can make growth fun and engaging. This is something I have practiced since the start of my career - and it has yielded the best possible results over the course of 15 years of my practice.

The Payoff: Why It’s Worth Every Penny

For Employees:

• Increased job satisfaction: Gallup has estimated about 70% of professionals being disengaged from their work due to lack of personal development and professional growth opportunities.
• Higher confidence and reduced burnout: A research by KPMG suggests that 75% of the professionals are suffering from a constant state of high stress resulting in low productivity.
• A sense of purpose in their work: Global studies show that 63% of the employees are more likely to be engaged better if led by purpose driven leaders.

For Organizations:

• Lower attrition rates (goodbye, endless hiring cycles): University of California in a recent study demonstrated that nearly 90% of the companies that have invested into integrated learning combining personal and professional development of employees have noticed measurable improvements in employee retention and effectiveness.
• Enhanced innovation and problem-solving: Surveys at Delta International showcased that companies that have invested into purpose driven leadership & personal development have significantly enhanced innovation and problem solving capabilities of their employees resulting in 42% better financial results.
• A magnetic employer brand that attracts top talent: Sustainable Development Policy Institute (Pakistan) showcases a 50% increase in engagement and retention rates when multiple development avenues are available for employees.

The Punchline

Investing in personal development is not about turning employees into superheroes overnight (though that would be cool). It’s about equipping them with the tools to unlock their own potential—both professionally and personally.

HR doesn’t just manage employees; it empowers them. The next time someone asks, “Why should HR care about personal development?” you can simply smile and reply:

“Because when employees grow, the company grows. And we’re all in this together.”

At treening, we specialize in crafting programs that align personal growth with organizational goals. Whether you need leadership coaching, mindful practices, or vision-building sessions, we’re here to partner with you in creating a culture that thrives.

Ready to empower your employees and transform your organization? Let’s connect. Because when employees grow, your company grows—and we’re all in this together.

What are your thoughts on HR's role in personal development and how does your organization approach it? Let’s start a conversation—because the best ideas come from shared wisdom. Drop a comment below!