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Most companies, when they look at developing workers for leadership or management positions, focus on the top 15 percent of the workforce. These are the so-called high-potential employees.

At the other end, there are about 15 percent who are underperformers, with a large group of 70 percent in the middle. Since this middle sector makes up such a large percentage of the workforce, what can companies do to develop the talents, skills they have in this segment of the employee population? After all, there is potential here as well.

While employees themselves need to take responsibility for professional development, companies can put programs and processes in place to help workers develop their potential. The starting point for such an enterprise begins with communication among managers and employees, where workers can discuss what career aspirations they have, their strengths and weaknesses, and what kinds of things they need to work on.

There are various kinds of employee development programs. Some focus more on classroom work, with seminars and degree programs. While these certainly have their place, some human resource specialists favor other types of programs – things like short-term special projects, longer assignments, working on task forces, cross-training, job rotation, and expanding an employee’s responsibilities. These enable workers to show their potential outside of what they are currently doing. And while many may take advantage of such opportunities, there will be those who are content in their current situation, and may not participate. But this is the employee’s choice.

So, while programs for high-potential employees are necessary to develop tomorrow’s leaders for a company, the large swath of the workforce that does not fall under this designation should not be ignored. By putting development programs in place for everyone, a company will improve the skills of its workers, thereby increasing productivity and enhancing employee morale as well.

As some executives have noted, employees at all leadership levels of an organization need to be high performing in today’s global economy, not just the people at the top. It would be a big mistake to ignore those who may not be moving up in the organization because they have no desire to.

If you are a company looking for talented workers in the New York City area, the recruiters at Winston Resources can help. Contact us today.


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