The ability to utilise modern technologies and methods is simply scratching the surface. Employees need to rethink their job roles, their relationship to others, and what a successful working environment means to them in fast changing labour markets (Attwell et al, 2019). Leaders need to take new approaches to match the new responsibilities. The importance of ‘identity’ of individuals, occupational groups and skill development will be discussed. The passing on of skills and knowledge from workers to others within and outside of organisations and sectors is discussed in the context of peer coaching, social learning and labour market intelligence / information (LMI) in practice.
EmployID’s earlier research (2014-2018) outlines skill development inter-related domains: (i) relational development; (ii) cognitive development; (iii) practical development; and (iv) emotional development (Brown & Bimrose, 2018). These take place within particular structures and differing learning and personal development contexts. Intrinsic motivations (driven by internalised goals) and extrinsic motivations (subject to social/ contextual influences) have both been shown to impact on adult workers’ learning behaviour. Mielniczuk & Laguna, 2017 argue there must be ‘extrinsic motivations’ to learn driven by a desire to achieve a result such as: a desire to gain a reward (external regulation); a desire for approval (introjection); achieving a personal goal (identification); and increased reflection of an aspect of the self (integration).
The evidence suggests that whilst extrinsic motivations can be influenced (for example, by encouraging employers to support and invest in employee learning), intrinsic motivation is a necessary driver of learner behaviour. Skilled helpers (“navigators”) supporting learning can help to cultivate meaningful learning. The EmployID team has learned that creating spaces is not enough. Facilitated interactions can help practitioner and clients to make sense of and tell stories about their changing world, as summarised in a free online book: https://consultancy.employid.eu/2019/03/04/book-empower-to-shape-change/