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Staff Management Advice

Staff Development: Addressing Short- and Long-Term Needs

With ongoing professional development becoming an increasing business focus, many firms are implementing formal programs to address both the short- and long-term needs of their staff. Managers who succeed in this area understand the importance of addressing the specific needs of each employee that they view as critical to individual and company success. As a manager, how do you go about addressing the professional development needs of your team? Here are some items to consider:

• What skill gaps exist in your department? Identify specific needs for each member of your team. Certain functional skills, such as software expertise or understanding the technical nuances of a financial system conversion, for example, are typically short-term situations. Longer-term needs include those of staff who could benefit from leadership or interpersonal skills training.
• Do you have the internal resources to address needs? Once identified, determine if employee “weak spots” can be addressed either by other members of your team or through training opportunities provided by your company. Classes and seminars can help but often carefully chosen mentors and coaches are most effective, depending on the circumstances. Long-term development can often be best addressed through mentoring arrangements. Mentors, whether in a formal or informal capacity, focus on career growth and provide advice that the protégé can choose to use -- or not use. For example, if some employees need to improve their interpersonal skills, you may be able to match them with mentors who excel in this area. Short-term issues, on the other hand, are typically more performance-oriented and require improving particular behaviors through specific skill improvement intervention. These may be addressed through the use of employee or outside coaches who help individuals focus on specific operational areas. Ask your HR department what options are available to you.
• Do you have a budget for external solutions? Implementing professional development programs can be challenging in today’s business environment. Increased workloads and budget considerations can make it difficult to find options that match both your financial and time constraints. Before embarking on any formal plan, speak with your supervisor and your HR department so you are clear about your options and potential limitations.

This article is provided courtesy of Robert Half Management Resources. For more information, visit www.roberthalfmr.com.