All employees deserve to feel empowered and supported during their careers. However, many professional women find that they face persistent gender bias when searching for development opportunities. This is despite the fact that, according to MIT research, women typically outperform their male peers, and yet, women are 14% less likely to receive a promotion.
Fighting this gender bias is tough. However, progressive businesses can do their part by offering continued learning opportunities for employees of all genders. Continued learning opportunities can help employees feel confident in their place of work and convince folks to apply for the promotions and positions that they deserve.
Benefits of Education
Education is a source of empowerment and inspiration for millions of people around the globe. A great teacher or course provides timely information in a way that learners can use immediately in their day-to-day lives. This is particularly important in today’s fast-paced business environment, as proper education can reduce the risk of human error by teaching folks to:
- Follow procedural training to increase familiarity with proper policies and priorities;
- Utilize technology properly to reduce workloads and enhance productivity;
- Abide by compliance training in order to stay on the right side of procedures and safety protocols;
- Improve their communication protocols to better manage their people and build relationships with external and internal stakeholders.
Leveling up these skills reduces the risk of error and enhances workplace efficiency. This is crucial for folks who are looking for career development opportunities. Continued learning opportunities that reassert the importance of compliance and communication protocols can help folks stay abreast of industry-wide changes that affect their day-to-day operations, too. This ensures that employees are ready for all that the future of work has to offer.
Future Proofing
No one can accurately predict the future, but that doesn’t mean employees should overlook the importance of future-proofing themselves while searching for career development opportunities. Rather than ignoring emerging trends and overlooking growing markets, businesses should empower their employees by offering continued learning opportunities for their entire team. Education can help future-proof businesses and engage employees by:
- Increasing opportunities for feedback;
- Teaching folks how to audit and update policies based on technological advancement;
- Offering access to workshops that provide hands-on experience with emerging tools and technologies;
- Leveraging smart partnerships to embrace new ideas like AI-generated analytics.
Offering educational opportunities also improves retention by showing staff that their employer is willing to invest in their future. This can be deeply motivating, as those who take up these opportunities will qualify for promotions and climb the corporate ladder within the business, too. This can create a pathway for success within the business and show other employees that progress is possible.
Educational opportunities that foreground emergent technology and new ideas are crucial for the long-term development of employees. Folks who engage in these continued learning opportunities will be well-positioned to utilize cutting-edge tools and feel confident enough to apply for positions that they will love.
Career Development
Employees want to work for businesses that offer education, as they know that continuous learning facilitates career development. Investing in professional growth can unlock new career opportunities and will put folks in a great position to apply for promotions and pay raises. The best continuous learning programs give employees a blend of soft and hard skills, meaning employees can cover any potential weaknesses in their application.
Continuous learning opportunities can alleviate gender bias and help ambitious women break into fields where they are traditionally underrepresented. For example, data published by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics(NCSES) shows that only 1 in 3 STEM workers are women. This alarming statistic represents a genuine social issue, as proper representation in STEM ensures that society progresses equitably.
However, progressing STEM professions require plenty of education and development. The tools used by folks in STEM professions like civil engineering and geology are constantly changing as technology evolves. This means that women who want to increase their ability to find fulfilling work in STEM deserve to be supported by their employers who embrace continuous learning and are willing to invest in employees who show an interest in emerging STEM tech.
Career development opportunities increase the lifetime value of employees, too. This is key for employers that champion their people and expect to keep hold of loyal workers for years to come. By investing in folks who want to further their careers, businesses can create a culture at work that keeps people around and helps them achieve their career goals that much sooner. This can have a knock-on impact on recruitment, as prospective employees are far more likely to apply for roles at businesses that help folks achieve their potential.
Conclusion
Investing in employees is a great way to boost loyalty, increase productivity, and reduce the risk of human error at work. Folks who engage in continuous learning opportunities will take the lessons they learn at workshops and training sessions to heart. And are more likely to become star performers in the workplace.
Engaging in educational opportunities can spark a period of career growth. Continued learning opportunities that come with qualifications and certifications prove that employees have all the soft and hard skills they need to be successful. This is particularly beneficial for women who are routinely overlooked for promotions due to gender bias. By engaging in continued learning, folks also gain a boost to their confidence and self-belief. This can convince more employees to apply for the promotions and pay raises that they deserve.
This guest post was authored by Ainsley Lawrence
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer who lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings. You can follow her on Twitter @AinsleyLawrenc3
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