HR is always saying that it whole heartedly supports personal career development, but too often does not back it up with requisite supporting action. For example, when professionals want to do courses to help their career but are blocked from doing them if they are not directly related to their job. John Hine, expert in the field of human development, says that this is a real gripe for many professionals who are determined to forge ahead with their careers.
Gone are the days when people just took jobs for the money, they now strive for much more. It is the whole balanced package that they are after and part of that package is career development.
Too often in the UK what appear to be statements of intent by organisations turn out to be no more than aspirations in practise. This is a very common and yet potentially dangerous activity for the organisation concerned.
Dedicated,committed staff are the very core of any business, make them disillusioned and they will leave. It costs a lot of money to attract the right talent and even more when you lose them. It could cost a great deal more if the talent you lose is vital to your organisations well being. It is innovation that will dominate the 21st century and innovation is about people. If you truly believe that staff are the very core of your business, genuine personal career development will have to become part of your business culture.
This would have to include a distinct education and mentoring section at management level with real influence to challenge training blocked by line managers for operational reasons. Too often 'operational reasons' smacks of under-staffing, lack of organisation or fire fighting, which is no way to run a business.
Keeping your best people is a primary task for Human Resources
Within this article in Personnel Today, the recruitment, retention and turnover 2007 survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reveals that nine out of 10 employers that provided additional training to allow internal staff to develop and fill vacancies said it had a positive impact on attracting and retaining staff.
