A famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, inventor, renowned politician and the face on the US $100 bill, has been learnt and reflected upon to this day: “Investing in knowledge always pays the best interest”. This quote exemplifies well how knowledge can take professionals to another level. In reality, the experience of successful people shows that personal and professional development is the result of a lot of dedication, study and time.

The competitiveness and technological innovations of recent times have highlighted even more the importance of investing in the evolution of professionals in a company, not only in technical knowledge but also in the company’s goals and values. When we hold a leadership or team management position, this focus must extend to our work partners so that both company and employees can evolve together.

Technology providing knowledge

Nowadays, technology has provided quality learning to everyone who has access to the internet. Through so many options, it is essential to seek expertise, development and improvement of skills, in addition to the qualification of important abilities, such as communication and leadership.

The market is getting tougher every day, demanding a high level of specialisation from professionals, as well as diversified aspects and abilities. In the same direction, digital transformation has generated a series of changes in the market, increasing the need for more dynamic and modern workers able to deal with new technologies and methodologies.

In this scenario, a degree, although essential, is no longer a differentiating factor, becoming a real necessity. What can make a professional stand out goes far beyond a university degree, involving expertise and the development of personal and professional skills, such as communication, fluency in other languages and a more managerial vision. Therefore, as time goes by, investing in knowledge of the team becomes an even more necessary practice. The accelerated dynamics of society, the means of production and technology, for example, promote in companies the need for a profile of a more innovative, proactive professional with multiple abilities – which often go far beyond their area of training.

According to a survey by Oxford College, 21% of British people are using internet technology to learn. One of the main reasons for the high demand for online courses is affordability. The vast majority of distance learning courses are usually cheaper than face-to-face classes.

This difference in costs is due mainly to the difference in costs of each one. In-person courses usually have a higher price for the company, since they require greater infrastructure and logistics to be performed. The same teacher can teach an online course to thousands of people at the same time, which is not possible in a classroom, for example.

The benefits of investing in the team’s development

Investing in knowledge and values is essential. Being aware of innovations is an even more beneficial point for the company’s success, as continuous improvement can be seen as one of the best ways to become relevant, technical and distinctive in the market.

Revising and improving working methods and processes

When we start a course or participate in a training process, for example, we are often surprised by new ways of planning or executing our daily tasks. Even if they are not new techniques or knowledge, we realise that they had not been put into practice simply because habit had already established another modus operandi to the routine.

Investing in the knowledge and training of the team offers companies the possibility of breaking old habits and broadening the horizon of their staff in the search for solutions which are more in line with the needs of the moment.

Ahead of the competition

With a vast workforce available to companies, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to position themselves in a relevant and competitive market. In a scenario of an intense search for the best professionals in the market, the solution to make the company grow is to invest in knowledge. A team prepared to carry out tasks in the best way is a satisfied and productive team.

In this respect, it is clear that education and evolution are one of the main factors of differentiation of companies in the market. The logic, in this case, is simple: the more qualified and experienced the team, the more prepared it will be for adversities and be in alignment with the culture and values of the company.

However, the important distinctions are not restricted to the area of expertise. Companies require bold, dynamic and multi-skilled people. For this reason, in addition to training, it is paramount to invest in other areas, such as:

• Fluency in other languages
• Good communication skills
• Empathy
• Proactivity
• Proficiency in new technologies and methodologies
• Openness to change, among other competencies.

Motivation and integration among the people

When the staff recognise that the company or the leadership is concerned with enabling the qualification of its employees, the tendency is that there is a higher motivation and integration between the people working together to provide the best result.

This is because the employee feels valued within a culture that appreciates each person’s evolution. Whether remote or face-to-face, a course or even training also offers the possibility for teams to think and practice cooperation and integration more intensely in the work environment – and also outside it.

More and more, the market demands loyalty and flexibility from professionals to work in a collective and integrated way. Therefore, investing in occupational learning solutions that stimulate in employees the essential skills of integration and teamwork puts companies in tune with the values and practices most desired by today’s corporate world. Hiring companies that make dedicated online courses for learning for employees can be a practical solution to prepare your team for the expertise and virtues that your company cherishes.

An interconnected team, which shares common values and, at the same time, knows how to live with differences, produces better and brings more worth to the company.

Better results and increased productivity

A company or leadership that stimulates the continuous learning of its employees is not only contributing to the professional qualification of each individual separately. The results of this investment, even in the short term, are reflected in the team’s performance. Better prepared and updated, they have more tools to find the best solutions to the proposed challenges, improve the quality of the service and support the decision-making processes within the organization.

Critical sense

Knowledge is a great motivator of people’s critical sense. Therefore, it is natural that studying and living in learning environments, such as universities, and educational centres, online or offline, also develop a critical view of the world.

Learning, in general, makes room for the confrontation of ideas, for questioning and for seeking solutions to different issues that may arise. This capacity undoubtedly adds a great deal to the image and profile of the professional, placing him or her as a questioning being, with critical and accurate reasoning. These are attributes which are highly valued in the market.

Providing knowledge keeps talented employees in the company

At the beginning of this article, we talked about the intense competitiveness of the market nowadays. Companies are increasingly focused on their search for new talent. Aware of the fierce competition, professionals who want the best for their careers are constantly on the lookout for the best opportunities.

It is important, then, among other good HR practices, to stimulate qualification and invest in employees’ knowledge to retain the most talented professionals for longer.

Conclusion

To have a team focused on bringing the best results for the company, investing in knowledge and holding the staff to the business values can be the differentiator for success. In an increasingly competitive market, investing in human resources can make a company’s employees even more satisfied, providing a better quality of personal and professional life for staff members.