Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023 - 27

they'll be less effective and less fulfilled
in their roles. In short: People aren't
going to work hard if they don't feel their
hard work is leading them anywhere.
Investing in upskilling and reskilling
employees is thus instrumental in
maintaining a productive and engaged
workforce. New skills not only give
employees more satisfaction in their
jobs, but they also afford increased
leverage when asking for raises and
can be bridges to higher-paying jobs.
Take Amazon's upskilling program for
example, which trains hourly workers
in software development and other
high-demand skills, allowing them to
access higher-paying positions while
keeping talent within the company and
reducing turnover. Amazon has seen
70,000 employees take advantage of
the program.
Amidst its challenges, digital
transformation offers a wealth of
opportunities. As new technology gains
a foothold in the workplace, it creates
the potential for a groundswell of
specialized experts. People are building
their own positions and finding a genuine
For 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.
passion for their work - but not without
the support of their organizations.
Ultimately, effective professional
development requires synergy between
managers and employees to identify
the upskilling/reskilling programs that
will reignite their motivation and propel
them toward their goals.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF VERIFICATION
It's not enough to simply teach
someone
a new skill - learners
need proof of their accomplishments,
whether that's to land a promotion,
secure a higher-paying job, or justify
their competence in a new program
their company is adopting.
By implementing upskilling programs that
offer digital credentials, employers not
only have the opportunity to address the
technological skills gap, but to invest more
meaningfully in their workers, giving them
well-earned credentials they can take with
them anywhere.
And that means anywhere. Their
credentials need to be transferable
and easily verified - this is why more
companies and training organizations are
opting for digital credentials, which can be
searched in a repository and displayed on
social media for optimized visibility.
Digital credentials are also more secure
than traditional paper or PDF credentials,
with many platforms offering bank-level
encryption or even blockchain-backing,
so employees know their proof of
accomplishment is safe - and companies
know their qualifications are real.
YOUR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST
Find your " ambassadors " to guide
and mentor other employees.
Ensure employees can obtain digital
credentials for their training.
Integrate learning into daily operations.
Match the pace of technology adoption
with the pace at which employees can
be trained.
CONCLUSION
Digital transformation is more than just
another workplace buzzword - it's the
here and now, impacting all our lives
as we forge our careers. But while
this great wave of change is creating
the skills gap leaders must work to
remedy, it's also creating opportunities
for growth, specialization and more
efficient
work
overall. The key
to
bridging the skills gap is not to resist
these changes or remove anyone
who can't keep up. Rather, it's to find
harmony between necessary training
and employees' interests, arming them
with the tools and encouragement to
achieve their potential.
Danny King is the CEO and co-founder of
Accredible, a global digital credentialing
platform that serves certificates and
badges on behalf of MIT, Harvard,
Google, Skillsoft, McGraw Hill and over
1,800 others. Email Danny.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2023 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
27
https://trainingindustry.com/magazine/may-jun-2021/upskilling-and-reskilling-is-the-future-of-ld/ https://www.staffing.com/amazon-retaining-top-talent-through-upskilling/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine
Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023

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