A lifelong journey
of development?
Blog by
Yvonne Oldenhof
Lifelong learning (LLO) is a phrase that is widely used these days. Whenever I am at a client, there’s always at least one question about developing employees for the future. Sustainable development. That makes me very happy. It’s wonderful to engage in conversations and think together about how you can help your people grow along with your organization.
Developing and training people
The world around us is changing rapidly. For example, technology is changing both our lives and our work. That is exactly why it is so important to keep up and keep developing. By increasing skills, confidence grows, and you see people grow personally.
➡️ As employers, it is important to take action in this area; development leads to better performance and productivity. You retain your employees because you provide them with these opportunities. Another major benefit is that your talents stay with you because they feel supported.
When are people inclined to change?
It is not only important to attract good employees, but just as important to invest in them and thus retain them. On the one hand, this can mean offering challenging tasks, appreciation, and collaboration. On the other, it means providing a positive work environment with a good work-life balance. A sense of pride in their work.
➡️ Employers can invest in the satisfaction, development, and engagement of their employees in this way. Regularly have meaningful conversations with your employees about this.
Work and meaning
Nowadays, employees are increasingly asked to engage in lifelong learning. This applies both now and in the future. Of course, there is an economic interest, but it is also about meaning. The goal is to continue working with enjoyment, based on our needs. But what stands out is that more attention is often given to what is needed for work than to personal strengths and motivations.
➡️ How wonderful is it that employers and employees work together on developing and training people, allowing them to engage and excite each other, and from that mindset, new training opportunities arise.
Opportunities for training
The government also promotes lifelong learning through policies and measures. An employee of an FME company can, for example, use a training voucher via the FNV. This voucher (€1,500) can be used for a course, training, or education. In addition, there are plenty of opportunities for employer-sponsored training through A+O subsidized workshops. The great thing is that you offer your employees the chance to strengthen themselves in a specific area. It helps them learn specific skills so they can perform even better in their current job.
➡️ Here, too, the employer certainly has an active role in encouraging employees (in the end, it’s a win-win). As a partner of A+O, we also provide various workshops and training courses. Take a look at our website or get in touch if you would like more information: Training via MEPD.
Engaging in conversation with each other
Together with my colleague Joanne Bouwers, I have provided the ‘Work Pressure and Vitality’ workshops and ‘How to hold an effective conversation’ at several companies. Our experience is that this is a great way to get employees talking to each other about a certain topic. Sharing knowledge and techniques to find connection together.
Learning in your daily work environment and free time
Learning doesn’t just happen through official education, but also in your everyday work environment and in your free time—for example, during volunteer work or while practicing your hobbies. There are many different ways to learn. You can take courses relevant to your current job or simply because you enjoy learning something new. Recently, I completed a module from a post-bachelor’s program myself. I met new people, gained new insights, and learned a new method. Choosing a module that appealed to me and being able to apply it directly in practice gave me a lot of energy. Moreover, it contributes to my professional success and growth for the future. And that’s a bonus for my employer, too!
Also read the blog by colleague Wouter about change: something you do every day.
Yvonne Oldenhof
Career advisor
What gives me satisfaction is making employees aware of their talents. That way, they can talk about them with renewed enthusiasm. I truly believe in the (resilient) strength of every person!
