Motivating employees is a more arduous task than it seems at first. Most workplaces opt for extrinsic incentives such as monetary bonuses, failing to provide personnel with intrinsic motivation to promote long-term commitment to the company. According to Thibault Landry et al. (2017), financial awards and compensation fail to stimulate better performance and dedication to the company. Thus, it is necessary to cultivate employee motivation through an offer of training and professional development.
Company personnel can be motivated through additional training and development opportunities. According to Bawa (2017), a significant proportion of employees, specifically young professionals, seek positions that facilitate career advancement and provide them with professional development and training programs. For example, all employees can be provided with a personalized Professional Growth Plan that will outline their growth opportunities both within the company and outside it. The company can afford off-time for training programs that overlap with work and take the responsibility of paying for such programs.
The offer of additional training programs and professional development opportunities is associated with several risks and benefits. The company will incur all financial costs for the employees attending courses. It will also bear the costs of travel expenses and personnel missing working days to attend training programs. However, the benefits to the company are substantial as the offer of professional development contributes to employees being more motivated and confident in their positions. In addition, training results in staff being more invested in the organization’s success and reduces turnover and absenteeism (Bawa, 2017). As the skills and abilities of individual employees are enhanced, the company will also benefit financially from the workers being more qualified (Bawa, 2017). However, there is a risk of employees leaving and searching for new positions outside of the organization if it fails to provide them with advancement opportunities.
In summary, business ventures should aim to enhance motivation in their employees by providing them with opportunities for professional development. Additional training programs can contribute to personnel being more dedicated to their work and more motivated to contribute to the company’s growth. Although the costs of such programs can be substantial and the companies face the risk of staff searching for another place of employment, the benefits of a motivated workforce are invaluable.
References
Bawa, M. A. (2017). Employee motivation and productivity: A review of literature and implications for management practice. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 5(12), 662–673.
Thibault Landry, A., Schweyer, A., & Whillans, A. (2017). Winning the war for talent: Modern motivational methods for attracting and retaining employees. Compensation & Benefits Review, 49(4), 230–246. Web.