The rapid pace of change across businesses and industries has created a widening workforce readiness gap, leaving employers without the talent and skill sets needed to drive revenue and remain competitive. Cornerstone’s recent Workforce Readiness Gap report reveals 94 percent of business leaders recognize that their learning technologies substantially influence organizational agility. However, a concerning 63 percent say their employees lack preparedness for change. This underscores the need to bridge skill gaps to stay competitive; enhance innovation; and build an engaged, agile workforce.
Let’s explore how a personalized and tailored approach to learning and development equips employees with the necessary skills to keep pace with change, become proactive problem solvers, and drive innovation. This empowers employees to take ownership of their careers and fosters a culture of continuous learning, ultimately leading to a high-performing and resilient workforce—a key differentiator in today’s evolving marketplace.
Intentionally Creating an Employee Development-Focused Culture
Creating a culture of achievement around continuous learning doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a personalized approach that elevates innovative pathways for employee growth and is centered around the way people learn in today’s modern workplace.
The same research reveals 92 percent of employers feel confident in their ability to develop their employees’ skills, but only 42 percent of employees say they receive the correct type of training to do their jobs well. This stark contrast highlights how today’s dynamic workforce expects personalized learning and development experiences, rendering the traditional one-size-fits-all approach obsolete.
To ensure employee development is personalized and tailored to employee needs, companies first must identify the skills employees have or lack. Our data shows that only 45 percent of company leaders know of existing skills gaps, and 78 percent believe a lack of visibility into these existing skills puts a burden on an organization. Artificial intelligence-powered tools can deliver personalized data-driven insights into these gaps, which then can be addressed through targeted employee development and continuous learning, including personalized content offerings and upskilling.
To truly create a culture focused on employee development, develop a program allowing employees to choose their preferred type of learning. Examples include:
- Anytime, anywhere learning: Employees can access learning materials and complete training modules on their schedule, regardless of location.
- Personalized learning journeys: Adaptive technology tailors the learning experience to individual needs and learning preferences.
- Flexibility and control: Employees can choose how they learn, at their own pace, fostering a sense of ownership over their development.
Effective development programs include performance management processes benefiting both the manager and the employee. Throughout an employee’s career, there are opportunities for leaders to create “micro-moments” or “moments that matter,” which are critical touchpoints or interactions that leave a lasting impression. Being mindful of the significance of these moments can help managers create impact as they review and assess employee skills, set goals, and discuss career growth. Managers and employees unite in a shared mission with this approach, creating a supportive environment where employees feel confident about their professional development. This collaborative effort fosters a culture of continuous learning and mutual success.
Bridge the Gap by Building a Tech-Empowered Workforce
Honing in on the most effective strategies to close skills gaps can be challenging. Often, employers may turn to a variety of strategies or “silver bullet” technologies to develop workforce readiness, including internal programs, external partnerships (i.e., vocational training, professional certifications, apprenticeships, online courses, etc.), mentorship programs, or job rotation schemes. However, many fail to find a holistic and tailored approach that resonates with employees.
While technology is one cause of the workforce readiness gap, it is also part of the solution. AI-powered tools help bridge skills gaps and build an agile workforce equipped to adapt to tomorrow’s challenges. AI plays a pivotal role in facilitating knowledge sharing and fostering collaboration across various departments within an organization. Virtual mentorship programs and tailored content, powered by AI chatbots, enable employees to access advice, expertise, and relevant information anytime, from anywhere.
These AI assistants act as knowledge repositories, virtual mentors, and search copilots, providing on-demand support and sharing institutional knowledge. They can answer common queries, offer best practices and guide employees through complex processes or tasks, ensuring consistent and up-to-date information delivery.
Inspiring Managers to Be Innovation Leaders
Managers play a pivotal role as pioneers in employee development. They are the front-line leaders who directly influence their teams’ growth and motivation. To put it simply, they are our “multiplier effect.”
Managers who embrace the “multiplier effect” mindset recognize that their role extends beyond merely transferring knowledge. They understand the importance of fostering an environment that empowers employees to grow, learn, and reach their full potential. By actively investing in their own professional development, these managers lead by example, continuously expanding their expertise and honing their leadership skills. This commitment to self-growth and life-long learning enables managers to stay ahead of industry trends, acquire new competencies, and model behaviors that reinforce the unique strengths of each team member.
Managers’ professional development opportunities can involve participating in leadership training programs, engaging with industry-specific workshops, and leveraging AI to gain insights into emerging skills and competencies. As managers evolve and enhance their own capabilities, they become better equipped to mentor and support their teams and become more adept at creating opportunities for their teams, amplifying the collective impact and organizational trust.
Effective workforce development requires a top-down commitment. Organizations that prioritize personalized approaches to employee growth demonstrate the value they place on integrating advanced technology with human-centric development strategies. We know from our research that a best practice of high-performing organizations is an “internal first” mindset. This focused yet balanced approach enables companies to bridge workforce readiness gaps more effectively, cultivating a resilient and capable workforce
By building a skills-centric foundation and fostering a culture of continuous learning, organizations demonstrate commitment to an agile workforce. This commitment equips employees for long-term success, fostering innovation and securing a competitive advantage. It also sets the expectation that company leaders and managers should lead by example and embrace innovation to help everyone learn and grow together as a team.