Reskilling and Lifelong Learning

What is upskilling and reskilling?

Upskilling and reskilling are more than just buzzwords in the industry; they’re key training strategies that can really boost your workforce. When we talk about learning and development, both of these terms mean giving your employees some training to help them get better at their jobs.

With upskilling, you’re taking an employee’s current skills and kicking them up a notch. Think about the differences between junior, mid-level, and senior employees. Each level needs certain skills and knowledge to move up. Upskilling gives people the tools they need to grow and bring more value to the company.

Reskilling, on the other hand, is all about teaching employee’s new skills that are totally different from what they’re currently doing. This can help them move between departments or dive into new areas they’re interested in. Basically, reskilling is about learning a whole new discipline.

Even though these ideas sound different, they actually work together as part of a bigger plan. The main goal behind all this training is to make employees better at their jobs and more valuable to their roles.

Whether you’re looking to upskill an employee to do better in their current job or reskill them for a brand-new role, both approaches are crucial for keeping things moving in your organization without spending extra time and money on hiring new people.

Advantages of Upskilling and Reskilling

Investing time and resources into upskilling and reskilling your team is a no-brainer. Sure, you could just hire new people who already have the skills you need, but that’s just a quick fix. As the world changes, so do the skills your business needs, which means you’d be stuck in an endless loop of hiring.

Instead, rolling out fun and engaging learning programs that focus on upskilling and reskilling is way smarter. The benefits of taking this route totally knock the socks off the perks you get from just hiring new faces.

1: Keeping Your Team Around

Let’s face it, nobody wants to work in a place that feels like it’s going nowhere, and that includes your team. When people feel like they’re stuck in one spot, they start looking elsewhere for growth opportunities.

Gallup tells us that feeling stuck without chances to grow and develop is the top reason people bail on their jobs. Show your team there’s a path to new skills with you, and you’re not only keeping them around but also getting them more pumped about their work.

2: Building a Culture of Learning

One of the coolest things about focusing on upskilling and reskilling is that you end up creating this awesome culture of learning at work. It doesn’t matter where someone is in their career; encouraging them to keep getting better in a supportive environment is a game-changer.

PwC says that a whopping 77% of workers want to level up their skills. The hunger for a learning culture is real, and making upskilling a priority can seriously boost morale, teamwork, and how well everyone performs.

3: Making Your Team More Flexible

By upskilling and reskilling, you’re giving your team a wider set of skills, which makes them super adaptable at work. This flexibility means they can get insights into different parts of the business beyond their usual roles. And when they bring back all that knowledge to their main gig, they’re making even bigger contributions to the company.

How to upskill and reskill your team

Figure Out What Skills Need Work

First off, let’s get clear on what skills and areas need a boost. It’s all about working together with your team to spot the skills that really vibe with where the organization is headed. Focus on the stuff that’s going to make a big difference.

Make Sure Everyone Can Get in on the Learning Action

In a cool workplace, everyone should have a shot at training and growing, not just a chosen few. If we start picking favorites, it’s going to bum people out. So, it’s super important to give everyone equal chances to grab some top-notch learning resources.

Get Your Team to Own Their Learning Game

Tell your team to grab the reins on their own learning adventure. It’s way more rewarding and useful for everyone if they get to pick what they want to level up in, instead of just being told to learn certain things because the company says so. When they’re in charge, the whole learning thing becomes a lot more interesting and valuable for everyone involved.

How to Upskill and Reskill Your Team Like a Pro

Figure Out the Must-Have Skills and What Needs Work

First things first, you’ve got to know where you’re heading. Team up with your crew to identify the skills and areas that vibe with what the organization is all about. Zero in on the skills that are going to make a real difference.

Make Sure Everyone Can Get in on the Learning Action

A kickass workplace is one where every single person has access to training and growth opportunities – no exclusions. If you start playing favorites, you’re just asking for trouble and a bunch of unhappy campers.

You’ve got to knock down any barriers to high-quality learning resources so everyone can get their hands on them.

Let Your Team Members Lead Their Learning Adventure

Give your folks the reins to pick what they want to learn. When they get to choose what interests them instead of being told what’s important for the company only, it makes the whole learning journey way more rewarding for everyone.

Go Digital with E-Learning for Smooth Upskilling and Reskilling

E-learning is your best friend for keeping things fresh and engaging. It’s perfect for quickly rolling out training on specific skills. With tools like Elucidat, you can pump out top-notch content without breaking a sweat, making it easier for your L&D team and experts to support both the now and later of upskilling and reskilling.

Check out the Elucidat Showcase for some cool e-learning design ideas for upskilling and reskilling. You’ll find everything from in-depth process training to bite-sized product knowledge sessions and tips to boost performance.