Beyond the comfort zone: Empowering employees with unique learning opportunities

As a Culture Consultant and Coach, I believe businesses thrive when they work in harmony with their employees. Both are more likely to reach their full potential when they actively empower one another – not when employees feel siloed.

That’s why, after a 20-year career specialising in People Management, I started Joyful Minds in 2020 – with a mission to help leaders create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

It’s fair to say I’ve learnt a lot over the past 25 years, so I would like to document some of it through a blog series.

Each blog will delve into a new topic, whether it’s simply exploring something of interest, sharing advice or explaining my services a little better.

This time, we’re exploring the art of trying something new. More specifically, the power of gifting employees the opportunity to do so – because this kind of focus can transcend into a happier, more successful, workplace.

Effective leadership and employee satisfaction

While every organisation is different, there are some fundamental non-negotiables when it comes to effective, people-first leadership.

One of them is this: an effective leader isn’t stagnant.

Rather, they embrace and encourage change, listening to employees and taking an adaptable approach. They recognise the importance of a motivated, stimulated workforce, and most importantly, they understand how crucial this is to success.

Employees aren’t just the face of a business; they are the centre of all operations. If they enjoy going to work, that will transcend into their day-to-day role and positively impact customer satisfaction.

As Simon Sinek said, customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.

So, what can leaders do to ensure their employees love their job?

Venturing outside the comfort zone

Something many businesses often overlook is simply investing in their existing employees.

87% of millennials prioritise development opportunities when choosing a job, indicating that younger workers, in particular, see professional growth as a leading factor in their employment decisions. And once people are in, it can play a key role in their long-term employee satisfaction.

If someone’s day-to-day job never changes, they might get itchy feet and wonder whether the grass is greener elsewhere. A comfort zone can feel safe, but it can also lead to feelings of complacency and demotivation.

Effective leadership comes from allowing employees to step just beyond the comfort zone; from giving them the opportunity to develop professionally.

It doesn’t need to be a huge, life-changing leap – just something that offers a new test. Something that sways employees a little outside of their ‘norm’. That’s the sweet spot. And it might just uncover some hidden talents in the team.

That’s why I run People Potential, the Joyful Minds Leadership Academy.

People Potential

People Potential is here to help businesses get the most out of their employees, but more importantly, it’s here to help employees get the most out of their job. There’s evidence to suggest that 74% of people feel they aren’t achieving their full potential at work due to insufficient development opportunities – I want to help combat this.

People Potential is a unique organisation-wide plan that provides leaders and their people with a valuable storehouse of online live programmes and workshops that will nurture and embed a culture of learning, development and self-leadership at all levels.

Designed with small to medium sized businesses in mind, it’s a monthly membership that allows employees, managers and leaders to follow their own development journey.

Whether it’s gaining bitesize knowledge or understanding a new principle all together, People Potential gives businesses the tools it needs to effectively offer employees beneficial learning that works.

Build a learning-fuelled environment

With a learning and development intervention in place – like People Potential – a business will not only ensure they prioritise employee development, but ensure they offer it in a safe environment with no pressure. 

They can subsequently expect to see increased employee engagement, better performing teams and increased employee retention. In fact, LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in their learning and development.

Effective leaders invest in their teams and give them the freedom they need to grow professionally.

Not because it’s a good tick box exercise for HR, but because they understand it could be genuinely transformative to their outputs and culture.

References:

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236438/millennials-jobs-development-opportunities.aspx [87% of millennials prioritise development opportunities when choosing a job]

https://buildempire.co.uk/employee-training-statistics/ [74% of people feel they aren’t achieving their full potential at work due to insufficient development opportunities]

https://peopleinsight.co.uk/employee-learning-and-development/ [LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in their learning and development]