Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023 - 26

ALIGNING SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT WITH THE
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Digital
transformation
is more than
just another
workplace
buzzword - it's
the here and now,
impacting all our
lives as we forge
our careers.
As the workplace evolves, so do the skills
needed to function and be productive
within it. To give a broad example,
before the pandemic, being familiar with
Zoom might have simply been a " nice to
have, " but not a core competency. Now?
It's vital. This is a digital transformation
that happened in the space of months
- albeit precipitated by seismic world
events - but nevertheless a widely felt
example of how the skills necessary for
a job can change in an instant.
On a more granular level, individual
roles and niches, especially within the
technology industry, are often subject
to more incremental transformations.
Software developers, for example,
are consistently learning new coding
languages and PaaS/IaaS platforms.
Other companies, as their reliance
on enterprise technology grows,
are requiring deep specialization in
programs like Marketo and Salesforce.
These breakneck changes are gouging
a wider divide in proficiency, and if
workers can't keep up the pace, their
roles could be phased out.
There is also a generational component
to the digital skills gap. Younger,
" digital native " employees may have
a leg up on other generations when
it comes to adopting new programs
and technologies - with such early
and incessant exposure, they simply
have the cognitive schemata to figure
them out. On the other hand, older and
longer-tenured employees may be more
familiar with how training takes place
at their company, even if they aren't
as familiar with the new technologies
management is implementing.
The conditional " may " is critical language
here. Everyone's experience is different.
People's disparate backgrounds and
exposures are part of what creates these
skill gaps, but they also bring a valuable
diversity of perspectives. By thoroughly
considering the variations in their
employees' skill competencies, whether
through surveys or on-site observation,
companies can better design training
programs that are truly equitable. From
| 26
there, the challenge is in creating and
sourcing training materials that everyone
can firstly understand, and secondly, in
which they can see value for themselves
as well as the organization.
Here are a few steps to ensure no
learner is left behind:
* When implementing a new software
system in the office, choose
" ambassadors " to become experts on
the program. They can then help train
new employees.
* Invest in and develop courses with
digital certifications and badges. Not
only will it help you keep up with who's
qualified, but learners can share them
on social media and use them to fuel
their own career growth.
* Make learning feel less like a chore
by building it into daily operations.
For example, managers can help their
direct reports organize their schedules
and tasks so training can happen on
the clock. Holding interactive, fullteam
trainings can also get employees
more engaged.
* If possible, try to match the pace of
integration/implementation with the
pace at which your employees can
realistically receive training.
Keep in mind that skills development
should also be happening at the
individual
level.
With
highly
the
recent
growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and
widespread automation, workers are
seeking to create
specialized
roles for themselves to reinforce their
value. To that end, people's unique
talents and interests are more powerful
than ever before.
UPSKILLING:
A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT
IN THE WORKFORCE
Many workers will leave a job because
they either don't see an opportunity
for growth, or they aren't given the
opportunity to gain the skills necessary
for an upward move. Moreover, if they
don't have the proper skills to meet
the evolving demands of the business,
https://www.ibm.com/topics/iaas-paas-saas https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/digital-native.asp
Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023
