Developing employees is one of the most valuable things you can do for your business. Not only does it create an opportunity for them to grow personally and professionally, but it is also essential to the overall growth of your business. If your employees are not learning and growing, neither is your business. The best way to prepare your business for the future is to identify and develop future leaders in your organization.

However, many business leaders don’t know where to start when it comes to developing employees for future success. They recognize the importance of investing in employees but don’t often have a formal plan in place. In most cases, developing employees is left up to each individual manager—and there’s no systematic process.

4 Ways to Develop Employees for Personal & Professional Future Success

So, how do you develop employees for future success? Here are a few strategies you can utilize in any industry:

1. Help employees set professional development goals.

Helping your team set professional development goals in addition to the work-related objectives is a great way to develop employees. Encourage them to consider where they want to be in five years, and set specific goals that will help them get there.

We’ve found that it’s best to limit these goals to three per review period. Doing so allows employees to concentrate on their specific objectives and attain more measurable success.

2. Intentionally invest in continuing education programs for your employees.

Some businesses provide incentives or stipends for employees pursuing higher degrees of education. But, that’s not the only way to invest in the ongoing learning and growth of your employees. It could be something as simple as creating a professional development budget that employees can use to attend industry conferences or purchase books that will help them grow as a leader. 

3. Encourage employees to participate in professional organizations.

Attending local, regional, national, or international conferences or workshops hosted by a professional organization is another great way to invest in the growth of your employees.

Getting them connected to a network offers a way to get additional support, advice, and information on how to grow professionally and personally. It also gives the organization another ambassador for the business.

4. Delegate responsibility as a way to help employees grow.

Every leader knows that delegation is important to free up the time to do what you do best. But, delegation is also beneficial for your employees. For some employees, being asked to take on additional work is highly-motivating, as they feel you trust them and care enough to help them continue their professional development. 

What’s the Right Employee Development Program for Your Business?

Every business is made up of unique individuals with a variety of passions, interests, and talents. If you’re unsure about how to create the best employee development plan for your team, we at LBMC Employment Partners can help. Connect with us today to see how we can help you set up a professional development plan for your employees.