High-performance organizations realize that their success depends on how capable their people are. They also recognize that formal education doesn’t necessarily equip employees with the appropriate skills to thrive in the workplace. The solution lies in training staff to meet the specific requirements of your organization. This is where competency-based training comes in.
Competency-based training is developed around the competency standards that have been identified for a specific role. To be assessed as competent, a person must demonstrate the ability to perform a job’s specific tasks.
How Competency Creates a Win-Win Environment
In a competency-based system, both the employer and the employee benefit. This is a result of establishing a transparent blueprint for recruitment, job expectations, performance evaluation, and advancement paths. Personal judgment and subjectivity are minimized, creating a more positive work environment and a stronger relationship between employee and employer.
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Benefits of a Competency-Based System for Employers
- Ensures that organization-funded training and professional development activities are cost-effective, goal-oriented and productive
- Enables employees to achieve a high level of competence in an efficient manner
- Records the employee’s acquisition of the skills, knowledge, safety and other procedures relating to each task
- Reduces cost overruns caused by poor performance or miscommunication of job expectations
- Improves communication between employee and management
- Increases internal employee mobility, providing the organization with greater ability scale and flex as needed
- Establishes a framework for constructive feedback by management at scheduled training and performance appraisal intervals
- Clarifies job standards for performance appraisals
- Outlines employee development and promotional paths within the organization
Benefits of a Competency-Based System for Employees
- Sets clear performance expectations for employees, enabling them to make better decisions and work more effectively
- Gives employees insight into the overall strategy of their team, department, and organization, leading to greater engagement and motivation
- Enables employees to be more proactive beyond their individual roles, by learning additional competencies that are valued by the organization
- Provides clear direction for learning new job skills
- Offers a reference resource for day-to-day requirements
- Increases the potential for job satisfaction
- Provides a mechanism for the recognition of employees’ abilities
- Ensures that individual professional development and training milestones are recorded and acknowledged by the organization
