How employee growth and development supports workplace well-being
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When the time comes to hire for a position within your workplace, you'll likely look for a candidate who meets the skill, education and experience requirements — and works hard at their job.
Instead of taking the risk of hiring someone from outside the company and training them from start to finish, consider upskilling an internal employee through personal growth and development opportunities.
When you invest in an employee's growth and development, you not only reap the benefits of internal recruitment but you show employees you value their emotional and psychological well-being.
Here are our tips for investing your employees' growth and development in the workplace.
What is personal growth and development?
Personal growth and development is the art of your employees finding and becoming the person they want to be through the development of new skills, attitudes and actions that have a positive impact on their life and increase their mental health and well-being.
Why is personal development important in your workplace?
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, having opportunities for personal growth and development within the workplace is essential to your employees’ well-being.
This framework identifies learning and accomplishment as basic human needs. When your employees feel they have opportunities to improve themselves and gain new skills, it gives their work a sense of purpose and connects them to the organization, according to the 2025 Workplace Learning report from LinkedIn Learning.
Employees who felt they had growth and development opportunities in the workplace reported better mental health than those who did not and were less likely to feel stressed during their workday, resulting in a greater sense of well-being.
Empower employee growth through well-being
Personal growth and development are essential to your employees' well-being at work. Connect with a Wellmark well-being consultant today to learn how the Wellmark Well-being team can help engage your employees.
What can you do to encourage personal growth and development in the workplace?
There are many ways your workplace can integrate personal growth and development opportunities. The key is to remember that this is your employee's journey, not your company's.
1.
Create growth plans.
At the start of the new year, or when an employee begins working with your organization, collaborate with the employee to create a unique personal growth and development plan applicable to their position.
This includes working in tandem to develop a personalized growth and development plan that will help them develop a desired skill or mindset. Allow the employee to identify areas of skill and ability, passion for certain tasks or projects, areas of improvement or other needs of the organization. If the growth plan is not unique to the employee, it may not be as successful.
2.
Think beyond formal training.
Employee personal growth and development don’t need to fit into a certain box. Consider starting a book club where employees can discuss the latest trends within your industry or providing quick learning sessions where employees teach each other skills or share their passions.
3.
Provide mentor/mentee programs.
According to a survey from MentorcliQ, 84 percent of Fortune 500 companies and 100 percent of Fortune 50 companies have a mentoring program. Plus, 75 percent of executives credit their mentors for helping them reach their current position. A mentorship program has been shown to create healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.
4.
Help employees develop their soft skills.
When it comes to soft skills, many of your employees (maybe even you) are lacking, and don't even know it. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, soft skills include things like professionalism, communication skills, teamwork and problem solving. Executives consider these skills essential to fostering employee retention, improving leadership and building a meaningful culture. And, the good news is these skills can be learned by your employees.
5.
Ask your employees what they want and need.
At the end of the day, it’s about your employees and what they need to be successful, which will create a successful and thriving business. If your company's current personal growth, development or training opportunities aren’t showing success, consider sending out a survey or hosting a collaborative meeting with your employees to gauge the most effective way to help them to grow and develop as a person and employee.
Growth and development opportunities mean happier, healthier and more engaged employees.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to creating an environment within your workplace that promotes healthy behaviors. Our employer and well-being consulting services offer proven solutions that motivate employees to change the behaviors holding them back from living their best lives.
Reach out to a Wellmark well-being consultant today.
Questions? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative.
Article resources
Forbes Coaches Council. (2017, May 31). 13 ways to regularly support your employees' personal development. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/05/31/13-ways-you-can-regularly-support-your-employees-personal-development/
Michaels, G. (2023, February 8). How do I improve employee development? 15Five. https://www.15five.com/blog/how-do-i-improve-employee-development/
The Huffington Post. (2015, June 5). 14 ways to stimulate personal growth. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/14-ways-to-stimulate-personal-growth_b_7456094
Mashable. (n.d.). Kid dream jobs. https://mashable.com/ad/article/kid-dream-jobs