The Dance of Impactful Workforce Development
In a recent study, we asked 100 employers across the US: What is the most valued characteristic of a workforce development partnership? 86% said, “We want to be clearly aligned with our partners.” Not funding. Not research. Not values. Goal alignment.
Building a strong workforce isn’t just about adapting to shifting industry needs or reskilling older job seekers; it’s about alignment between workforce partners and employers.
In the last blog, I used an iceberg to discuss change resistance, so it’s time for a new analogy (I love analogies). We’re going to use dancing for this.
In the dance of impactful workforce development, employers and program facilitators are partners, moving to the rhythm of industry demand and educational supply. It’s a performance where every step counts, and misalignment can lead to stepping on each other’s toes.
Spotting the Missteps: The Art of Alignment in Workforce Development
Misalignment, like resistance to change, can often be a silent saboteur:
Decreased Relevance: When training programs are out of sync with real-world applications, we see a decline in job placement, indicating a mismatch in skills provided and skills needed.
Dissatisfied Employers: Employers who voice concerns about unprepared graduates are not just expressing dissatisfaction but highlighting a crucial gap in the program's effectiveness.
Evolving Too Slowly: In industries where change is the only constant, educational programs that can't keep pace aren’t just stagnant; they're retrogressive.
Setting the Stage: Understanding and Aligning Goals
To avoid a pas de deux of pitfalls, workforce development programs must first listen to the industry's music in three steps: set clear goals for your partnership, understand and give names to your risks, and design iterative solutions.
Clear Goal Setting
Begin with a candid conversation with industry partners to outline not only the skills needed today but also those anticipated for tomorrow. The beginning of the conversation can sound like this:
Looking ahead to 2034, what competencies should we prioritize building now?
With increasing diversity and globalization, what cultural competencies will be required?
How can we integrate principles like sustainability and ethics into skill development?
Risk Analysis
Understand the gaps in current programs and their risks to success. Is the curriculum dated? Are we focusing on theory over practice? It’s about diagnosing the dissonance before it leads to downfall. Once you examine the risks, name them and build mechanisms to monitor them against your progress.
Iterative Design
Craft programs that are agile, with room for iteration. Training isn't a set routine but an evolving choreography that adapts to feedback and results. Include “safe to fail” experimentation in your program development to maintain momentum without losing touch with your goals.
In Step with Industry: Creating Dynamic Programs
Here are some concrete ways to ensure workforce development initiatives are in lockstep with employer needs, based on feedback we’ve gotten from employer partners interested in workforce development:
Collaborative Curriculum Design: Co-create programs with employers, ensuring that every course module resonates with the cadence of current industry standards and practices.
Responsive Feedback Mechanisms: Establish real-time feedback loops with employers. When a new skill emerges as vital, the program should be nimble enough to incorporate it—fast.
Celebrate Adaptability: When a program successfully pivots to match industry evolution, spotlight it. Let these success stories lead the encore, inspiring continuous alignment.
We’re in an age where the only constant is change, and the tempo is ever-increasing. Workforce development isn't just about equipping individuals with skills; it’s about sculpting a workforce that’s resilient, adaptable, and in constant harmony with industry dynamics.
By focusing on goal alignment, understanding and addressing gaps, and designing programs that embrace iteration, we don’t just prepare individuals for the workforce; we shape the industry's very future.
Remember, alignment in workforce development is not merely a strategic advantage; it's an imperative that benefits employers and job seekers alike.