Is Employee Mobility Really Working?
Internal mobility—the movement of employees into new roles and growth opportunities within the same organization—should be a game-changer. Ideally, it allows talent to shift roles, acquire new skills, earn promotions, take on additional projects, or even work from anywhere. But, sadly, in many organizations, this vision remains elusive. Opportunities often appear to be reserved for a select few individuals. Networking and knowing key player in the management outweigh talent and hard work when it comes to promotions.
Traditionally, organizations have leaned heavily on external recruiting to fill new roles. Yet, this approach demands a significant investment of time and money from recruitment to onboarding and training. In times of economic uncertainty, HR and Talent Managers are urged to work smarter, not harder, which has elevated the importance of internal mobility. While it’s true that placing an internal candidate who lacks certain skills isn’t ideal, we must recognize that no one ever meets 100% of a job’s requirements. When given a chance, a motivated internal employee will go above and beyond to bridge those gaps, often succeeding in ways that exceed expectations.
Internal mobility is also essential for employee retention, engagement, and financial health. Forcing employees to stay in roles where they feel out of place is a sure path to failure. Without motivation and goodwill, there can be no success. Frustration sets in, creativity dwindles, and a toxic environment begins to spread, poisoning the entire department. Yet, the solution is so simple: identify jobs or projects that align with employees’ interests and skills, help them explore new areas for development, and connect them with the right mentors.
It’s clear that organizations must do more to tap into their current workforce, identifying and deploying people with the necessary skills, motivation, and alignment with the company’s culture. By creating better programs to facilitate internal mobility, companies can reap benefits across the board: growth, heightened employee engagement, and improved business performance.The message is simple:
"Provide an opportunity to retain talent“. September is the perfect time to ignite new beginnings😉
Strategic Recruitment and Learning & Development Manager
2moGreat Article! Internal mobility not only rejuvenates employee engagement but also drives organizational agility. By fostering a culture that values internal growth, companies can better adapt to changing market demands and develop a more resilient workforce capable of navigating future challenges.