TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT…A NECESSITY!
The best corporations recognize that providing employees with opportunities to learn is profitable for both the corporation and the employees. The corporation gets better-skilled workers who are more positive, more flexible and more versatile. The employees get the opportunity to feel like they are important to the people they work for and they feel like they are part of a “team.” They also learn new skills, they learn new ways of viewing their workplace, they may meet and network with co-workers in other departments and most importantly they get a break from their day-to-day routine. This “break” is very energizing in itself! When employees are given opportunities to better themselves by learning new things within their corporation, it can electrify an otherwise stagnant group of individuals.
A few suggestions on Training and Development:
1. Allow employees to select and attend training courses of their choice.
2. Before employees attend a course, take time to meet with them to discuss what you hope they will learn from this experience.
3. After they complete the course, again take the time to meet with them to find out what they learned and how they will apply their new knowledge.
4. Have employees share with other employees what they learned at a training seminar.
This is excellent for office morale! Again, the knowledge will benefit those who attended the seminar, it will benefit those who are listening to their co-workers share the information and finally, the corporation benefits by having a more knowledgeable, motivated staff!
5. As an employer it is beneficial to assume that your employees want to do a better job and always want to grow. Most of the time you are correct!
6. Having a workforce that is trained, educated, and motivated is the key to maintaining a great competitive edge in today’s job market.
7. Always operate with integrity by treating employees in a fair and honest manner – the way management expects to be treated.
8. During every annual performance review, discuss career development.
9. Ask/Survey employees to make a suggestion list of opportunities on developing new skills, programs, assignments and teams. Form a committee and allow employees to have input in their career path.
10. Always provide opportunities to allow employees to discuss any issue with someone in the Training and Development area.
The ULTIMATE GOAL is to try to treasure your people by attracting, developing, and recognizing outstanding people, and caring for them and their families!
Nancy J. Phillips, CPC
