The Career-Focused Workplace: A Blueprint for Business Excellence

Written by: Donna Thaxter, Training, Coaching and Professional Development Consultant

In a recent twist of workplace perceptions, studies have unveiled a gap between what employees want and what they think their companies are providing. A significant majority of employees believe their organizations aren't actively supporting their career growth. On the flip side, research indicates that a large number of workers, especially millennials, actively seek opportunities at companies known for fostering career development. Gallup's recent research further emphasizes this, with a whopping 87% of millennials and 76% of employees across all generations considering professional growth and career development as very important.

A key revelation from a 2022 McKinsey study highlights that the lack of career development and advancement stands out as the primary reason employees call it quits. To address this, organizations must take a more systematic approach to helping employees discover and prepare for new internal opportunities. How can you do this? By identifying talent within your organization, visibly prioritizing employee development, establishing career pathways, providing wider exposure to business-critical functions and projects or initiatives, and providing training that targets soft skills and core work-related competencies.

For today's employers, establishing a reputation as a great place for professional growth is paramount. The more effort a company invests in fostering career growth, the more it stands to gain - attracting and recruiting top talent, retaining highly engaged employees, building organic succession plans, and employing a highly skilled workforce. The roadmap to achieving this involves making growth opportunities visible and ensuring active coaching occurs between managers and employees that includes conversations about career expectations, training opportunities, and exposure to work that prepares employees for future opportunities. The focus on professional development isn't just about employee satisfaction; it's a strategic move for long-term business success.

What do your professional growth and career development offerings look like? If you're interested in taking a more systematic approach that includes elements such as training, coaching, and mentoring, SCA can help. Contact our Director, Bill Dolan, for more information. You can reach Bill via email (WDolan@scapartnering.com) or phone (617-694-2617).