Employee development is the process of providing employees with learning and experience opportunities that support their career aspirations and the labor needs of an organization. This process typically involves creating individualized learning and development plans for employees, which outline the specific skills and knowledge they need to acquire in order to succeed in their current role and to advance in their careers.
Employee development can take many forms, such as formal training programs, on-the-job learning experiences, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It is often tied into performance management, such that continued learning and improvement is considered an essential part of an employee’s responsibilities. By investing in employee development, organizations can support their employees’ growth and career development, and ensure that they have the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to the organization’s success.
The following are common types of employee development.
| Accreditations | Awards & Recognition |
| Career Planning | Certifications |
| Coaching | Committee Memberships |
| Competency Management | Cross-training |
| Education Support | Individual Development Plans |
| Industry Conferences | Internal Events (e.g. Career Development Workshops) |
| Internal Presentations (e.g. Lunch & Learn) | Internal Training |
| Internal Workshops | Job Enlargement |
| Job Enrichment | Job Rotation |
| Job Shadowing | Leadership Development |
| Lectures | Mentoring |
| On-the-job Training | Online Training |
| Performance Assessments | Performance Feedback |
| Performance Goals | Presentations (e.g. at industry conference) |
| Professional Conferences & Workshops | Professional Organizations |
| Promotions & Advancement | Self-Study |
| Stretch Assignments | Stretch Targets |
| Succession Planning | Training |
