Tag: soft skills

The Importance of Soft Skills Training for Employee Retention The labor landscape employers are facing today is like none before. HR professionals everywhere are facing challenges posed by a global pandemic, shortages of labor, rapid technological changes, as well as intense competition for talent, which is in short supply. Unfortunately, as the continuing reports of what has been dubbed the Great Resignation show, many have failed to adapt to these challenges. Many organizations have failed to align with their employees' needs, and the result is high turnover. So, how can employers adjust to meet the changing needs of their workers and reduce record-high turnovers? There are many steps to do this, but it all starts with soft skills. Soft skills, often known as core skills, are the non-technical skills related to how an employee performs their functions, such as communication and leadership. These skills transfer easily between positions and are crucial to employees' long-term career growth. There are several steps to integrating these skills into a retention plan, and here are a few. Recognize Employees Changing Needs In attempting to fight high levels of turnover, many organizations have focused solely on superficial tactics such as raises and bonuses, but quality employee relationships go much deeper. Employees are not only looking to their employers for pay but also career growth. As a result, employees are looking for an employer who can help them to develop the skills they need to advance their careers. This includes not only technical skills related to their industry but also the soft skills they need to advance through the company ladder. Studies have shown that businesses that provide soft skills training and meaningful opportunities for development drive greater retention and a significant boost in productivity. One significant advantage to soft skills training is that no matter how far employees go in the company or what role they are in, soft skills are transferrable and will continue to bring benefits. Develop a Training Strategy The next step is to develop a strategy to incorporate soft skills training into your organization's training program. In training for soft skills, the goal is to create an overall change in employee behavior and to understand what training is needed; employers must determine what abilities and mindset they want to develop in their employees. One question to ask in determining this is what qualities your organization looks for in your employees. Often the answer to this will be based on the culture of the organization and is as unique and individual as every workplace. Often this, in turn, reinforces the employer's culture helping to boost employees' morale and leave them far more inspired to remain with the company. By determining what soft skills best match the organization's goals and culture, they can incorporate them into their training programs. This will provide employees with the tools and directions they need to advance and succeed within the organization. Adapt How Training is Provided to Employees Just as important as the message of the training is the way in which it is delivered. As the pandemic and Great Resignation has left employers short of labor, many employees are already overburdened and have little time to spend on training. It is important to keep this in mind and cater training to the times and methods in which employees feel comfortable, whether it is in-person or remotely. It is also important to follow up and ensure employees have the opportunity to practice and reinforce their new skills. With the labor shortages employers are facing, any strategy that can boost employee morale and reduce turnover is worth employing. A well-designed soft skills training can provide these benefits and help employees to grow with the company and boost productivity as part of the numerous additional benefits that these skills can provide. Knowledge is power, and learning is the first step. If you’re interested in more information on fair chance hiring, check out our resource, Adverse Action Notice Protocols in Compliance With FCRA Sources

Tag: soft skills

The Importance of Soft Skills Training for Employee Retention

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