8 expert opinions on how to improve employee engagement through learning and development

 

Employee engagement is the driving force behind any successful organization. It helps nurture talent, boost productivity and enhance skills. So, how does learning contribute to this?

To answer this, we’ve reached out to experts in L&D, HR and further afield to get their insights on increasing employee engagement through learning and development.

 

1. Motivation from the opportunity for growth

Will Yang, Head of Growth at Instrumentl, says:

“Employees are at the heart of any business’ quality of output. Happier employees result in better output. Naturally, individuals are inclined to feel happy and motivated when they are given a chance to grow as individuals.

 

“This is commonly seen in the workplace. Learning and developing employee skills are important when it comes to building a successful business. As your employees feel more confident in the work they do, your business can achieve its goals better.

 

“I also find that confident and skilled employees are able to engage with one another better to provide new and creative ways to be innovative and compete in your industry, helping them find a better sense of purpose in what they contribute to the growth of the company.”

 

2. Learning and a positive workplace culture go hand-in-hand

Natasha Delisle-Barrow, Head of People at Goosechase, says:

“Learning is one of those all-round super weapons that all companies should focus on embracing. L&D has a multiplier effect so that in a world full of noise, it can cut through to make you stand out as an employer.

“In terms of employee engagement, the benefits of L&D are numerous. L&D will bring your company values to the forefront, ensuring that your culture continuously evolves in the right direction. A culture of continuous learning ensures that greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and community become front and center of your environment. Who wouldn't want that for their company?”

 

3. Education brings benefits beyond higher productivity

Neil Khaund, CEO of The National Society of Leadership and Success, says:

“People aren’t static — they change and grow every day, and learning is a key part of that. When employers invest in educating and developing their talent, they take an active role in people’s growth, and employees naturally become more engaged and productive in their day-to-day work. 

“Education brings benefits beyond higher productivity. Training employees to improve soft skills such as problem-solving, conflict management or working with new technologies creates a more competent and assured workforce that can help your company evolve and meet the changing demands of the marketplace.

 

“Simply put, employers who invest in their employees’ learning won’t just improve engagement — they’ll reap tangible ROI in the form of lower operating costs, higher revenue, and greater market share.”

 

 

4. Engagement, productivity and customer satisfaction are all interlinked

Kimberley Tyler-Smith, VP of Strategy and Growth at Resume Worded, says:

“Employee engagement is vital for the success of any organization. The more engaged your employees are, the more productive they will be and the more satisfied customers you'll have.

“The most effective way to increase employee engagement is by improving the learning environment within your company. By offering opportunities for growth and development, you can help your employees feel like they're continually growing as people and professionals. That motivation will translate into better performance, greater job satisfaction and an overall increase in their sense of purpose at work.”

 

5. Learning is a key goal for professional growth

Troy Portillo, Director of Operations at Studypool, says:

“Employee engagement requires a willingness and desire to learn so that employees can be confident in their skills and experience new perspectives that will assist them throughout their career. 

“Many successful people attribute lifelong learning as one of their goals for personal and professional growth. In order to learn about anything, an individual must be engaged with the lesson presented to them. Mistakes, burnout and heightened stress are more likely to occur when people are not engaged in their work.”

 

6. Learning opportunities translate into employee investment

Michelle Hague, HR Manager at Solar Panels Network USA, says:

“As a HR Manager, I can tell you that one of the most important aspects of our jobs is employee engagement. We know that when employees are engaged, they are more productive and happy with their work. And when employees are happy, businesses see a decrease in turnover rates and an increase in profits. So why is learning such an important part of keeping employees engaged? Let me explain.

 

“When employees have the opportunity to learn new things, they feel like their employers are investing in them. This investment leads to employees feeling more valued by their company, which in turn leads to higher levels of engagement.

 

Additionally, learning helps employees keep up with the ever-changing landscape of their industry. If they feel like they are constantly learning and growing, they are more likely to be engaged in their work.”

 

7. Valued employees = engaged employees

Meira Primes, Vice President at Growth Space, says:

“One of the key things employees want in a job is an employer who truly invests in them. Employers who implement professional development programs that are personalized for each employee’s area of targeted growth demonstrate to their employees their belief in them as a true asset and partner for growth. Employees that are most engaged are typically those that feel valued and receive continuous opportunities for growth.”

 

8. Employee purpose is key

Mark A. Herschberg, Career Skills at MIT and Author of The Career Toolkit, says:

“In the last few years, we've seen laid bare a trend that had previously only been discussed about younger workers — employees aren't just in it for the money. Yes, they need competitive compensation, but employees also care about mission and purpose and their own growth. 

“One of the reasons younger workers push for fast promotions is because they feel doing the same job over and over stunts their growth. A promotion to a new role gives them new challenges and a new way to learn. If, instead, a company helped develop their employees, that input to the employees' desire for promotion would go down.

When done right, learning will upskill employees, increase employee engagement within the company and foster stronger internal networks, all of which benefit the company.”

 

And there's more where that came from

Understanding how meaningful learner engagement contributes to the overall success of your L&D programs is essential. To find out how to enhance, monitor and foster learner engagement, we’ve collated a resource with all the answers. Check out our learner engagement page to get started.

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