October 20, 2023

Skill management in the company: How does it work?

By Maximilian Karg · 4 minute read

Learn why skills management is a critical factor in a company's success and discover how the targeted development and management of employee skills contributes to competitiveness and long-term prosperity.

What is skills management and why is it important for companies?

Skill management is an important part of every successful company. But what exactly does it mean? Skill management refers to the systematic development and management of the skills, knowledge and competences of employees in a company. In other words, it is about promoting and using the knowledge and skills of employees in a targeted way in order to increase the success of the company.

Why is this important? It's simple: only if employees have the necessary know-how and continuously develop their skills can they optimally fulfil their tasks. This in turn helps the company to remain competitive and to operate successfully.

In short: skills management is an investment in the future of the company and learning - because this is the only way to achieve long-term success.

Steps to implement effective skills management

Effective skills management is an important part of any successful business strategy. In order to implement this in the company, there are a few steps that companies should follow.

First of all, the company must identify and digitally record the required skills and any deficits. On this basis, solutions for successful skills management can then be sought.

In addition, it is important to offer training and development opportunities in the system to ensure that employees are always kept up to date and can expand their knowledge.

The system should be monitored regularly to ensure that it is having the desired effect. Finally, the company should also promote communication and knowledge sharing among its employees.

By following these steps and implementing an effective skills management system, companies can ensure that their employees have the skills they need and can realise their full potential. This not only contributes to the success of the company, but also to the personal development of the employees.

Identifying the skills needed in a company

When implementing an effective skills management system, it is essential to identify the skills needed in the company. This is the only way to ensure that employees are equipped with the right skills to perform their tasks successfully and make the company successful in the long term. Both current and future requirements should be taken into account to ensure that the company is prepared for future challenges.

One way to identify the skills needed is to analyse job descriptions and talk to employees about their activities and competences. Customer feedback or market analysis can also help identify important skills.

By regularly reviewing and updating this data, companies can ensure that they are always up to date and can support their employees accordingly.

Create and implement development plans for employees

An important step in the skills management process is the creation and implementation of development plans for employees. The aim is to identify individual strengths and weaknesses as well as development potential.

These potentials can be promoted through targeted training and further education, which strengthens not only individual employees but also the company as a whole. In order to create an effective development plan, the company's goals should first be considered. What skills are needed to achieve these goals?

In a next step, an analysis of the existing skills of the employees can be carried out. Based on this information, individual development plans can be created. These should contain realistic goals and be clearly structured. It is also advisable to hold regular feedback meetings with the employees concerned in order to check the progress of the development.

The implementation of the development plans is done through targeted training and further education.

Offer training and development opportunities

An important aspect of skills management in a company is the possibility to offer training and development opportunities. This measure enables employees to enhance their skills and knowledge and thus improve their performance in the company.

It is important that the training is tailored to the specific needs of the employees and thus enables individual learning. Both internal and external content can be offered. Consideration should also be given in advance to the way in which training is structured. Should a top-down approach or a multiple nucleus approach be used? Who should organise the transfer of knowledge?

However, it is always important to regularly evaluate the training measures to ensure that they have a positive effect on skills management in the company. Through targeted training measures, the company can not only develop its employees, but also be more competitive in the long term.

Carry out a performance review of the skills management system

An effective skills management system can only be successful if it is regularly reviewed. Performance review is an important part of the skills management system and must be carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure that the system is delivering the desired benefits to the organisation.

One way to monitor success is to conduct employee evaluations - for example through digital surveys - and performance tests. These provide information on whether the employees have the required skills and whether the skills management was able to train and develop them adequately.

Another starting point is the analysis of key figures such as the reduction of errors or the increase in productivity after the introduction of skills management. It is important that those responsible regularly obtain feedback from the employees and make improvements on the basis of this. This is the only way to ensure continuous development.

Promote communication and knowledge exchange

To ensure effective skills management in the company, it is important to promote communication and knowledge exchange between team members. This is the only way employees can share their knowledge and learn from each other. This can happen at different levels: from informal conversations in the workplace to formal training and seminars.

One way to encourage sharing is to set up an internal knowledge management system or online platform where employees can share information and support each other. A learning experience platform, for example, is suitable for this. Not only is it establishing itself as a substitute for skills management systems - it also provides the most important added value when it comes to social exchange and digital knowledge transfer in the company. This way, your employees can benefit not only from the company's skills management, but also from that of their team members.

Regular meetings or workshops can also help the team work together on challenges and learn from each other. However, care should be taken that all employees are included and that their ideas and opinions are heard. This is the only way to create a positive feedback culture and successfully implement skills management in the company.

Conclusion: The importance of skills for corporate success

Effective skills management is an important success factor for companies. It enables the targeted development of employees and thus ensures a higher performance of the company. Through the identification of required skills and the creation of development plans, individual strengths can be promoted and weaknesses compensated for. Training and development opportunities help employees to expand their knowledge and stay up to date.

Regular performance reviews of the skills management system are essential to identify potential improvements and adapt the system to new requirements. Promoting communication and knowledge sharing through a learning experience platform such as U2D Aprenia also contributes to the successful implementation of a skills management system. A well-designed skills management system is therefore a decisive factor for corporate success, as it helps companies to remain competitive and to establish themselves in the market in the long term.