Retaining talented employees has become increasingly crucial in the constantly evolving economy of today, particularly as the average person changes jobs every 2 years and 9 months, with 42% switching jobs every one to two years.

The expenses related to hiring and training new staff can be significant, and losing skilled employees can disrupt workflow, hinder productivity, and ultimately negatively impact your business's competitiveness.

Therefore, it is imperative for businesses to establish a robust strategy for onboarding, training, and developing their employees to ensure that they start their careers on the right track and can envision themselves growing with the company over the long term.

In this blog, we will explore the essential steps to successfully onboard, train, and develop employees for retention in today's fiercely competitive job market.

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Create a comprehensive onboarding program

The onboarding process is the first impression new employees have of your company, and it sets the tone for their experience with your organisation. A well-designed onboarding program can help new hires feel welcomed, supported, and engaged, which when coupled with training/development (to be discussed later on, stay tuned) can lead to higher retention rates and a happier workforce.

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To create an effective onboarding program:

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1. Provide a warm welcome: A simple one to start with. Start by providing a warm welcome to new hires on their first day. Assign a buddy or mentor to help them navigate their new environment and introduce them to the team.

2. Clarify expectations: Clearly communicate job expectations, roles, and responsibilities to new employees. Provide them with an overview of the company's mission, values, and culture to help them understand how they fit into the organisation.

3. Provide necessary resources: Ensure that new hires have the necessary tools, resources, and training to perform their job effectively. This includes access to technology, software, and any other equipment required for their role.

4. Foster connections: Encourage new hires to build relationships with their colleagues through team-building activities, social events, and networking opportunities. This can help them feel a sense of belonging and connection to the team and the organisation.

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Implement a robust training program

A strong training program is essential for employee development and growth, which can boost retention rates. Employees who feel supported in their learning journey are more likely to stay with the company. Here are some tips for implementing an effective training program:

1. ‍Identify skill gaps: Conduct regular assessments to identify skill gaps among your employees. This can help you tailor training programs to address those gaps, and help everyone acquire the skills they need to excel in their roles.
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2. Offer various training methods: People have different learning styles, so offer a mix of training methods, such as classroom training, online courses, workshops, and mentoring programs. This ensures that employees can learn in a way that suits their preferences and needs.
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3. Provide ongoing feedback: Regularly provide feedback on employees' performance and progress to help them improve and grow. This can also help them feel valued and motivated to continue developing their skills.
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4. Encourage continuous learning: Create a culture of continuous learning by providing opportunities for employees to attend conferences, workshops, and seminars, and by offering tuition reimbursement programs for further education. This shows your commitment to their professional growth and can improve retention rates.
   
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Foster a development mindset

In today's competitive job market, employees are looking for opportunities to grow and advance their careers. Therefore, it's crucial for businesses to foster a learning development mindset that then provides a clear career development path for employees. Here's how you can do that:

Set clear goals: Help employees set clear short-term and long-term goals aligned with their career aspirations and the company's objectives. Regularly review and update these goals to ensure they are on track and motivated to achieve them.

Offer relevant advancement opportunities: Provide opportunities for career advancement within the organisation. This can include promotions, lateral moves, and cross-functional assignments that allow employees to broaden their skills and knowledge. Make these opportunities clear and outlined to the individual so they have an obvious progression path in front of them.

Provide mentoring and coaching: Offer mentoring and coaching programs to help employees develop their leadership skills and guide them in their career growth.

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The perfect solution

If you are seeking an engaging platform that can help you to onboard, train and promote a development mindset within your team then you have come to the right blog. You can find out more about Thrive here or if you’d like, you can speak to our experts to get a demo of our all-in-one LMS.

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