Recent research conducted by Gartner, Inc., underscores a crucial issue within many organisations: a significant gap between employee expectations for career development and what is actually provided. Only 46% of employees feel supported in their career growth endeavours, a statistic that highlights the urgency for organisations to rethink their career management strategies.
Understanding Employee Expectations
Employees today harbour high expectations for their career progression. A Gartner survey conducted in September 2023 with 3,500 employees revealed that while 55% of them expect a promotion within two years, only 40% achieve it. This discrepancy can lead to decreased employee satisfaction and increased turnover as employees seek advancement opportunities elsewhere.
Keyia Burton, Senior Principal at Gartner, points out that despite organisations equipping managers with resources to foster employee growth and continuously monitoring career development activities, there remains a stark mismatch between what employees expect and what organisations can feasibly deliver. This mismatch is exacerbated by rapid changes in organisational structures and skill demands due to technological advancements and digitalisation.
Strategic Actions to Support Career Development
To effectively address these challenges, Gartner recommends several key strategies:
- Aligning Values with Opportunities: It is essential for organisations to understand not only the professional but also the personal values of their employees. This alignment helps in providing more targeted and meaningful growth opportunities. Gartner’s research indicates that when employees feel their personal values are considered, they are 4.1 times more likely to stay with the organisation.
- Facilitating Navigation of Career Options: Many employees feel overwhelmed by the plethora of information regarding career opportunities. Organisations can aid their employees by consolidating this information and making it more accessible and actionable. This involves clear mapping of necessary skills and experiences required for future roles. In turn, this empowers employees to make informed decisions about their career paths.
- Transparent Communication: Less than one-third of employees feel their organisations are transparent about career growth timelines. By clearly communicating available opportunities and realistic timelines, and managing expectations, organisations can build trust. This transparency not only clarifies the path for career advancement but also significantly increases the employees’ feeling of being supported.
Roles and Responsibilities for Supporting Career Development
Implementing these strategic actions requires a three-way partnership between managers, employees and the organisation.
Enhancing Managerial Engagement in Career Conversations
One of the most effective tools in career development is the role of managers in having meaningful career conversations with their team members. These discussions should be regular and focus not only on immediate job roles. They should also focus on longer-term career aspirations and opportunities within the organisation. Managers need to be equipped with the right skills to ask insightful questions, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback that aligns with the employees’ career goals.
Empowering Employees to Take Ownership of Their Career Development
While organisational support is crucial, the responsibility of career development also lies with the employees. Individuals should be encouraged to proactively seek opportunities and express their career aspirations. In addition, they should be encouraged take advantage of training and development resources offered by the organisation. This proactive approach ensures that employees are not passive participants but active drivers of their career development.
Organisational Support through Targeted Training
Organisations play a pivotal role in providing the necessary training and resources to both managers and employees. This can include workshops on career conversations and career ownership, training on mentorship skills, and tools to help identify and develop necessary skills for career progression. By investing in such training, organisations not only enhance the capability of their workforce. They also demonstrate a commitment to the professional growth of their employees.
Implications and Recommendations for Organisational Career Management Strategy
The findings from Gartner highlight critical areas where organisations can improve their career development strategies:
- Invest in Understanding Employee Values and Expectations: Deep dive into what drives your employees, not just professionally but also personally. This understanding will enable the creation of roles and opportunities that are not only in line with organisational needs but also deeply fulfilling for employees.
- Invest in Manager Training: Provide managers with the tools and knowledge to conduct effective career discussions. This training should include techniques in empathetic listening, goal-setting, and feedback delivery.
- Encourage Employee Initiative: Foster an organizational culture where employees are encouraged to take charge of their career development. This could be through regular career planning sessions and access to educational resources.
- Streamline and Simplify Career Development Information: Provide clear, accessible pathways for career advancement, recognising that up is not the only way. Simplify the process of understanding what is required for progressing and developing within the organisation to prevent information overload.
- Maintain Open Lines of Communication: Regularly communicate with employees about their career progression and development opportunities. Transparent communication reduces misunderstandings and aligns employee expectations with organisational realities.
- Customise Development Programmes: Develop tailored programs that cater to the diverse needs of your workforce. This personalised approach shows employees that the organisation is invested in their specific career paths and is responsive to their growth needs.
For organisations looking to retain top talent and improve overall performance, addressing the gap in career development expectations is crucial. By empowering managers to have meaningful career conversations, encouraging employees to take ownership of their development, and providing necessary training, companies can enhance employee satisfaction and retention. The journey towards closing this gap may be a challenging one. However, the outcomes—a more engaged, motivated, and high-performing workforce—are well worth the effort.
