Workforce Development: Start Before the Summer Months!

As the temperatures rise and the days lengthen, engagement tends to falter. Many professionals experience a summer “brain drain,” where they become distracted by the beauty of the season and start longing for time away from work.

Since productivity can dip as summer progresses, taking action now is a must. By getting your workforce development initiative moving forward, you can keep your employees focused and engaged. If you are wondering how to get started, here’s what you need to know.

Why Start on Workforce Development Now?

Many professionals find development opportunities highly engaging. They allow them to explore new ideas and technologies, think creatively, problem-solve, and examine scenarios from a new perspective. That adds a degree of challenge to their workday, and that’s inherently beneficial.

Plus, when you offer workforce development as a perk, it shows your willingness to invest in your employees. That boosts morale, which, in turn, enhances productivity.

By starting now, you can get your program moving before the summer engagement lull. As a result, you may be able to avoid any performance dips that usually come as the mercury rises.

Identify Skill Gaps or Future Needs

Keeping your workforce at the top of its game requires foresight. You need to not only consider your needs today, but also what you’ll require down the road.

Begin by spending a moment to identify any skill gaps that exist in your workforce today that are currently hindering productivity. This can include capabilities that are missing, as well as any that are underrepresented, as both can lead to issues.

Next, consider what is on the horizon. Review any project plans or technology implementations to determine if they make skills that aren’t available (either entirely or widely) in your existing workforce necessary.

The goal should be to identify shortcomings. That way, you can address them directly, allowing you to forge your ideal workforce.

Create a Workforce Development Program

Once you know where you need to focus your energy, you can adopt an approach for addressing skill gaps. Aim to create a program that facilitates meaningful change, usually by addressing skill gaps that are hindering your workforces’ performance today before moving on to future needs.

Essentially, you want to consider which options provide an immediate return. By starting there, you can experience a boost quickly. Not only does this serve as a proof of concept, but it also benefits the business’s bottom line.

If you don’t know where to begin, Hamilton-Ryker can help. Our TalentGro division can aid you in crafting a workforce development program based on your needs. This empowers your company to address skill gaps, both those that exist now and those that may impact your future. Once implemented, your workforce becomes more capable, resulting in higher productivity and better outputs.

Are You Ready to Experience the TalentGro Difference?

At Hamilton-Ryker, we pride ourselves in providing comprehensive workforce development solutions through our TalentGro program that are meticulously designed to meet the needs of today’s companies. If you would like to find out more about our services, contact us today.