Investing in employee development should be a perennial priority. Conversely, foregoing training programs can lower staff morale, impede departmental efficiency and undermine retention efforts. Here are some effective ways you can support and promote employee development:

• Reimburse employees for training. You may consider providing each employee with a yearly allowance or simply reimbursing staff for outside courses or programs they enroll in.
• Provide flexible scheduling. Allow employees to reschedule activities or work nontraditional hours to make room for seminars and courses.
• Publicize opportunities. You should not expect staff members to just stumble upon training options. Continually alert them to the opportunities available, both internally and externally.
• Celebrate learning. As a manager, you can set an example by seeking training options for yourself. You also encourage learning when you announce in a meeting a staff member who has enrolled in a training course or distribute a department-wide e-mail congratulating an associate on earning a certification.