The job market is currently an employees market, and they have higher standards and expectations of their employers than previous generations.

Employers are therefore under more pressure than ever to hold on to their top talent and retain staff, with the cost of staff turnover being extremely high.

How can employers recruit and develop a workforce that is as productive as possible, and likely to stay with their organisation in the long-term?

Businesses have a huge challenge ahead to solve the retention crisis. The only way they can meet the task is by boldly investing in learning and development.

Data is an important tool to boost learning and development because it allows businesses to better understand how their employees are motivated, what their strengths are and what their development areas are – across skills, behaviours, attitudes and ways of working.

Through comprehensive assessments, detailed data can provide the most valuable information to bosses to inform their decision making about how they form teams, how those teams should work together, and how individuals can be developed once they’re part of the team.

Data-led strategies can therefore support the delivery of bespoke training. Data doesn’t just tell you about your employees’ skills. You can understand their attitudes, aspirations and how they’re best motivated. By better understanding this, managers and colleagues can make team members feel more motivated and create a proper development culture as a result.

Recognising employees’ development points, and knowing how to coach and develop them to raise their potential, will make your company performance more productive as well as making it a healthier and happier place for employees to work. 

If businesses get this right, there are positive impacts across the board. First, employees will feel that their employees care for their personal learning and development, which will give businesses the best chance of raising retention rates.

Second, if employees are regularly developing their skills, these businesses will have a higher level of skills and capability within their organisation, resulting in a more productive and higher-performing business.

Third, those who feel more fulfilled and developed are more likely to grow within a company as they feel part of a nurturing company culture willing to invest in them. This also contributes to a wider positive team culture.