Continuous strategic competence development, i.e. talent development, is needed in working life. Employees must be able to react to changes, know how to act in new situations and constantly acquire more skills.
Essential skills in working life include problem-solving skills, self-management and management of whole entities. Communication and collaborative skills are also fundamental. In addition, the development of technology creates more needs for specific skills. For example, mastering and utilising digital and artificial intelligence solutions is a significant competitive advantage.
In today's working life, continuous learning and the ability to change will become critical concepts determining the opportunities for individual employees to advance in their careers. Learning does not end when you get your degree; it is a significant part of working life.
Competence development is based on the organisation's strategy
A company's strategy determines what competence it needs. That is why it is essential to support skills development in line with the strategy and provide additional training (upskilling) and training for new tasks (reskilling). Strategic competence development also guarantees that the competence required by the business strategy can be acquired and utilised. This improves the company's competitiveness and ensures success in the future as well.
Employees must be self-motivated and willing to learn new things and develop their skills. When employees' wishes, needs and career plans are considered, they are even more willing and ready to work towards common goals and commit to the organisation.
Therefore, developing competence in an organisation requires the cooperation and commitment of employees, supervisors and managers. However, the company's management must enable development and create the conditions for it. The management team and organisation culture must encourage learning, and the tools and resources needed for education must be defined.
Effective plans and models for continuous development
Competence development is a process used to help the company retain the competence required to ensure competitiveness and achieve goals. At the centre of this process are the employees, whose motivation, competence and well-being are crucial because their contribution determines the company's success.
Competence development also includes the identification and evaluation of personnel and their competence. Planning, evaluating and developing related operating models, procedures, and practices is worthwhile.