Training in the Time of Trial

Yes, I know, times are tough. Every day we get something new to worry about.  Here we sit with the budget down and expectations up.  Now we have fewer employees doing the same or more work.  So what is a poor manager to do?

I would guess that the first word out of your mouth was not training.  Probably not even the second.  However, I submit that this is just the right time to concentrate on training.   In fact training is more needed now than ever before.

If you have had a RIF some of your collective expertise is no longer with you.  Even if you have avoided layoffs thus far you better be running on all cylinders.   Let’s face it: Cross training is no longer a luxury. In leaner organizations everyone must be prepared to cover more than his or her own bailiwick. This is not likely to change any time soon.

No doubt the budget is still what it is and the training portion was probably one of the first things to go or be severely curtailed.   I suggest it is time to rethink that decision!   If we expect greater results from fewer bodies then we had best be prepared to give them the skills they need to accomplish this.

Do you know any companies that don’t tout the employee as their best asset?  Well, friends, talk is cheap and many employees haven’t seen much evidence to that effect lately.  Salaries tend to be more or less flat these days.

On the other hand, training is the gift that keeps on giving. The better trained your employees, the better they perform.  Managers appreciate serious efforts to help them better manage.  Couple this with making it clear that this training is proactive and folks will get the message.

Let’s be blunt:  too much of our training has been perceived—and frankly intended—as remedial education.   Let’s be blunt again: If training is remedial we hired the wrong folks in the first place.  The mistake is ours, not theirs.  We need to put our training dollars to work maximizing our human capital.  Well-spent training dollars will reap maximum benefits. No kidding—just fact.

So, to be succinct:  Now, especially, is the time to train!   If we expect to do more than survive in the current economy we cannot afford not to train.

Until next time,

Jack

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