In the ever changing landscape of a post-pandemic Britain, it is of the upmost importance that everyone in the workplace has the skill set to keep ahead of the curve. In this blog we will be looking into the importance up upskilling, why our mangers are struggling and how we can upskill your workforce and managers through training to help them achieve their full potential.
Impact of COVID
As a result of the pandemic, we have seen so many changes to the workforce and it has had a detrimental effect on people’s livelihoods. It has also meant many people have had to change their way of working and adapt to keep their business afloat for example by stepping up the role of technology in the workplace. This change alone has led to a rise in development of new systems, software, and apps, leaving need for training. One of the downsides to this growth in technology, is that automation is now replacing many low-skilled manual jobs and as their jobs become redundant the need for re-skilling or upskilling is a necessity in order to find new work.
Whatever the case is, there has been substantial room for growth and movement over the past two years. So now more than ever it is the perfect time for upskilling in order to keep ahead of the times and stay adaptable in this unpredictable time.
Importance of Learning
Another reason why upskilling is so important is to create an environment of learning and growth in an organisation. For an individual it is important to make sure there is always an element of growth in your personal and professional development. Once things start to stagnate, productivity and morale can drop dramatically. I’m sure everyone at some point has experienced this first-hand, where they become too comfortable and maybe start to just go through the motions of their tasks without any real motivation or drive. This can be detrimental to a business, especially in a managerial position, who sets the tone of a working environment.
Although it is important not to overstretch oneself and burnt out; allowing for growth just outside of our comfort zone will help keep the brain stimulated and engaged, improving not only our work, but mental health and self-esteem. Furthermore, if this culture is implemented throughout a business, it shows the employee the company cares about the development and future of its staff by spending the time and resources on them.
Staff Retention
In a previous blog we spoke about the current issues with employee retention in the workplace. Although there are numerous factors that can influence this, it is widely known that people leave managers, not companies. We frequently hear how staff feel unsupported and their managers don’t create a safe open working environment, leaving the employees feeling micromanaged. But we don’t always address why managers are behaving in this way.
With all the changes happening in the workplace recently it is not surprising that some people may feel out of there depth which can feel very overwhelming and stressful. This would obviously have a negative effect on both yourself and the people around you. One of the ways to prevent this is by making sure we equip our managers with the up-to-date appropriate training to be able to effectively manage their workforce and be better able to deal with any challenges they may face. Thus, creating a better functioning working environment, which will likely have a positive influence on employee retention, staff productivity and everyone’s overall wellbeing.
If a company is going through a transitional period, or a change of hands (for example with a TUPE transfer), then it might be a great idea to get refresher training.
Why do managers Struggle?
Most managers are promoted because they have excelled in their previous position and have proved themselves to be a valued member of the workforce. However, these skills don’t always mean the individual will be an effective leader therefore making the transition often overwhelming and stressful. Some skills that managers tend to struggle with are, being able to delegate tasks, failing to adapt their management style taking into account the context or situation you face and ineffective communication. This is especially important in high-stress environments, highly technical businesses, or sectors which deal with vulnerable people.
Because of this it is extremely important we train our managers to help develop and grow their leader mindset. By helping managers develop this mindset and bridge their own skill gaps as a leader, through manager training it can help them reach their full potential and empower team mates to do the same.
How can Wurkplace help you?
As a response to the need for upskilling, Wurkplace will be running manager development sessions every Friday led virtually by one of our expert consultants. Some of the topics we will cover during these sessions are styles of management, staff engagement managing conflict and change management. Through this collaborative learning course it will help everyone from not just experienced managers but people looking to upskill and start on their manager journey, giving them the vital tools to effectively manage their workforce.
If you would like to hear more about these manager development sessions feel free to get in touch and well be happy to answer any questions you may have.
A valued member of the Wurkplace team providing administrative and coordinating skills for the HR department and also overseeing the accounts department of the business whilst carrying out key bookkeeping tasks and conducting payroll.
Georgia holds a level 3 in Business Administration and AAT level 2 whilst continuing to work towards gaining a diploma in AAT.