There has Never Been a Better Time to Upskill Employees: Here’s Why

We are living in highly unprecedented times. The initial lockdown instated to curb the spread of the COVID19 pandemic made it difficult for many businesses to stay afloat, but they still managed to survive this difficult phase. 

But the following waves of the pandemic have made things harder than ever. Many organizations have adopted new business models and embraced automation to get things done smoothly. However, there are still some aspects that are holding them back from thriving.

One such aspect is the lack of investment in employee upskilling. With countless examples of businesses accelerating to success due to employee development, it has been proven that giving employees opportunities to learn new skills is a sure-shot way to help your business grow.

And to add to that point, this is the best time to upskill your employees despite it being a difficult time for many companies to even consider investing in something. Here are X reasons that elaborate on that:

• Because employees have the time

Since employees are working remotely, they are saving a lot of time usually spent on travelling to and fro work. This time can be utilized better by providing them opportunities to acquire new skills.

This will help them get better at their jobs and improve their work efficiency. This will directly influence their performance which will benefit the company in this tough phase.

• Because it will increase business profitability:

Businesses need to find ways to ensure employees are staying productive to earn more revenue. When employees are provided training to upskill, they make fewer mistakes which increases their confidence.

Not only does this ensure they feel more satisfied in their jobs, but also work more dedicatedly towards achieving business goals. This helps in increasing business profitability and facilitates business growth.

• Because it helps employee’s stay productive:

A lot of employees are feeling a lack of motivation in this phase and is leading to them feeling disengaged. This can be harmful to the company as disengagement is a major cause of a decline in employee productivity.

Moreover, employees are feeling lethargic since they are working away from the office environment. Providing employees knowledge of new skills is a great way to keep them productive. 

• Because it provides social engagement:

The pandemic has enforced social distancing due to which employees have to work in isolation. This has led to employees feeling a lack of social engagement which can make them feel depressed and lonely.

By helping them learn together through virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT) sessions, you can provide them a social learning experience. If you are worried about the expense, you can make use of cloud-based training platforms like Thinkfic which are free to get started.

• Because it prepares employees for the challenges:

In today’s day and age, it is not enough to just survive. Businesses need to find a way to thrive despite the obstacles. You need to prepare your employees for the upcoming challenges since this pandemic situation is most likely to continue for a long time.

Upskilling employees add to their existing skillset while enhancing their existing skillset. This expands their knowledge and helps them to be better prepared to face any upcoming challenges. 

Conclusion:

Since remote work is the new norm, it is important to ensure employees learn to adjust to this new reality. When you invest in your employees by providing them growth opportunities, it makes them feel valued encourages them to perform better.

This ensures better business outcomes and higher financial gains for the company. This is why it is best to utilize the pandemic situation to upskill your employees.