Round Pegs Fit in Square Holes

Oct 08, 2023

Building human capital can be easy if you pay attention to your already existing talent and fill in the gaps over time. Some employees hold immense value for the business, but they may not be fit for all roles. In such an instance, they represent a round peg, while the role is square-shaped. There is plenty of room for managers to create a customized growth plan for each team member and show them how their efforts can be rewarded. 

Every new role has a learning curve – and every existing role evolves with time. Consistent training and mentoring allow your employees to strengthen their skills and ensure that the team doesn’t stagnate. One of the main reasons why employees leave their jobs is a lack of professional growth. If you wish to retain top talent, you should find the round peg for your square hole and leave room for growth. 

Set Clear Expectations 

One of the most fundamental strategies for training team members is to set clear expectations and communicate them. This ensures that you and your subordinates are on the same page and eliminates confusion. Moreover, open and honest dialogue sets the tone for future workplace interactions and learning. 

Provide Micro-learning Initiatives 

Shorter attention spans and tight schedules make it difficult for employees to find the time to learn. A good solution to this problem is micro-learning – short, interactive, and focused learning techniques divided into 5 – 10-minute sessions. Delivering helpful content in a precise manner makes it easy for people to learn and grow in the workplace. 

Offer E-Learning Programs 

E-learning is an excellent way to train your employees, especially if you have a hybrid or remote workforce. Flexible working hours have become the norm for many businesses, and the same concept should also extend to training. 

Teach by Example 

Explaining to employees how to perform a task is one thing, but teaching by example is another. Encourage your team members to shadow you or other employees so they can absorb the information better. When people get involved in hands-on learning, they are more likely to apply these newfound skills to their daily roles. 

Hold Individual Meetings with Employees 

Every employee requires a different level of attention and training. Holding one-on-one meetings with your team members ignites a sense of trust and confidence in them. Moreover, it allows you to understand their training needs better since both parties can openly discuss their concerns and solutions to those issues. 

Summing Up

Employee training is a one-size-fits-all approach and should be personalized to every employee depending on their profile and skill set. Boosting their engagement is also crucial for increasing the effectiveness of such programs, or else your team will start viewing it as a chore. Lastly, rewarding employee efforts by offering incentives and recognition will motivate them to perform better, thereby increasing productivity and morale.

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