4 ways organizations (like Dialogue) support employee growth

Companies across Canada are facing challenges in retaining and engaging their employees, with 70% of HR professionals¹ identifying this as a key concern. Factors contributing to this issue include the rising cost of living, a growing demand for flexibility, and, notably, a perceived lack of growth opportunities. The latter consistently ranks as a leading cause of turnover. Discover how organizations like Dialogue are addressing these challenges by prioritizing robust learning and development strategies.

The strategic role of learning and development (L&D)

Why does employee development matter?

Employee development is a term that often gets thrown around in the workplace, but what does it truly entail?

At Dialogue, it goes deeper than merely training employees to perform their roles; it’s also about demonstrating their value and potential for upward or lateral advancement. Employees who don’t see an opportunity to grow are less likely to engage² or bring their best selves to work.

The benefits of L&D for organizations

The new generation of workers has a vested interest in future-proofing their skills³, especially given the rapid growth of AI. In fact, 29% would quit their jobs if they didn’t receive adequate L&D opportunities. If done well and with the right people, having a structured L&D strategy can help companies⁴ in many ways.

Simply put, investing in L&D not only provides organizations with a competitive edge, but also fosters a dynamic and resilient workforce that is equipped to navigate the complexities of an evolving business landscape. Moreover, it lays the foundation for effective succession planning, ensuring that individuals with leadership potential are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently assume more senior roles in the future.

4 ways to foster employee growth

1. Reaffirm leadership commitment

The leadership team plays a pivotal role in shaping a company’s culture and behaviour. In other words, if employee growth isn’t prioritized at the top and embedded into your organization’s core values, it will be felt at all levels. For this reason, it’s important to equip managers with the tools to have growth conversations.

Once the importance of upskilling and continuous learning is well understood, it becomes even more important to lead by example and recognize and reward your team members for their skill development efforts⁵.

2. Promote internal mobility

Earlier, we mentioned how the perceived lack of growth opportunities affects employee engagement and performance. One effective strategy to address this issue is internal mobility⁶, which includes promotions, lateral transitions, job rotations, or temporary assignments.

In 2023, a significant 12.68% of Dialogue’s employees received promotions, a figure that excludes the frequent lateral transfers during the year. Through our structured internal hiring process, we actively encourage employees to apply for open roles once they have achieved mastery in their current position, mirroring the opportunities available to external candidates.

3. Invest in robust talent development programs

At Dialogue, our commitment to fostering growth and development is evident through initiatives like our comprehensive training policy and Dialogue University — our flagship L&D solution launched in 2022. Central to our approach is the creation of a personalized professional development plan, an employee-led exercise which is intended to guide them on their growth path. Our diverse programs encompass:

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4. Collect feedback from employees

Finally, it’s important to create a feedback loop with your employees to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of your training programs and identify ways to enhance them over time.

Recently, at Dialogue, we held a series of focus groups with various teams, which revealed that it’s crucial to tailor our communication plans for different audiences and integrate our offerings into our annual processes. This includes the onboarding process and performance review cycles.

The power of employee development

Employee development goes beyond skill training and has a direct impact on your business’ performance.
To foster employee growth, organizations must adopt a top-down approach, promote internal mobility, invest in robust talent development programs, and get in the habit of soliciting feedback from employees.

Learn more about what makes Dialogue a great place for employee development and well-being.