3 Consequences of Neglecting Employee Development

Development is a process that requires commitment on the part of the employee as well as the managers who are responsible for developing their direct-reports. It is not always easy having the development discussion but failing to address the developmental needs of direct reports can adversely affect an entire department as well as the entire institution. 3 specific consequences that can develop if developmental needs are not addressed include the following:

1. Employees feeling neglected and unmotivated - If not given opportunities to grow or feel supported, the morale and motivation of critical team members may begin to decline. As a result, they may view their work as less of a priority, and their work habits may deteriorate.

2. Attrition - If employees don't see opportunity for growth (which may exist, but which might not be apparent), top performers may seek challenges outside of a department or worse - outside of the institution.

3. No Succession Plan - If developmental needs are neglected, a department or organization may lack "bench strength" among the ranks should a top performer leave. When this happens, beyond the costs of recruiting and hiring a suitable replacement and/or training someone to fill an empty role, there are the costs associated with loss of intellectual capital built from experience which is difficult to quantify but noticable in the absence of a top performer.

What other consequences exist if employee development is ignored? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

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