Assessing the impact of training and development on job performance and personal growth initiatives: a study among real estate agents and brokers in Lebanon

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of training and development on the job performance and personal growth initiatives of real estate agents and brokers in Lebanon, a sector that has received limited empirical attention in the literature. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was adopted. Data were collected through a survey administered to real estate agents and brokers operating in Lebanon, yielding a final sample of 283 respondents. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the associations between training and development, job performance and personal growth initiatives. Findings The results indicate that training and development have a significant positive effect on both job performance and personal growth initiatives. Well-structured training programs contribute not only to enhanced performance but also to employees’ personal development and career progression. Practical implications Real estate companies are encouraged to increase investment in tailored training and development programs that integrate job-specific competencies with personal growth opportunities. Regular evaluation and continuous updating of training initiatives are recommended. Employees should actively engage in training activities, apply acquired skills to their work and communicate career aspirations to improve program relevance and effectiveness. Originality/value This study advances theory by examining training and development within a crisis-affected and institutionally unstable environment. While existing human capital and motivation theories have primarily been tested in stable and developed economies, Lebanon represents a high-uncertainty context characterized by economic collapse, financial system disruption and market volatility. By demonstrating that training and development simultaneously enhance job performance and foster personal growth under such turbulence, this study extends the boundary conditions of learning and motivational theories. The findings suggest that training operates not only as a productivity-enhancing mechanism but also as a resilience-building process in unstable markets. Therefore, the study contributes theoretically by reframing training and development as a dual-performance and psychological capital investment in crisis-affected economies.