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This sort of reactive approach to training and development costs far more than systematic training and is usually far less effective. So, how do we do this systematically? If we cover the key elements of an integrated approach to managing people, the pieces will fall into place. Planning The starting point should be the corporate plan - where is the organization going? If we know this we should also know what the obstacles are and what we are going to require of people. In previous articles we have discussed what people have to deliver (documented on job descriptions) and how they are to do it (competencies and associated behaviours). Once these have been determined, it should be easier to see what, if any training or development needs there are. Gun at the head test Here is a simple test to see if training is required. If the employee could do what is required if a gun was held at their head (please don't use a real gun!), they don't need training. They need better management. If they couldn't do the tasks, then training may be an answer. Following on from the planning stage there are other parts of the system that will provide useful information on training and development needs. Recruitment What are we having to recruit for? If we are paying a premium for certain skills, can we develop these internally? If we can't find certain abilities, do we need to start growing these ourselves? Performance management What are the gaps in current performance? Are these caused by a lack of training? What are the aspirations of staff and do they fit in with our corporate goals? Can we meet these with internal development plans? Rewards Are people earning to their potential through the salary system or incentive plans? If not, does this indicate a training need? Succession plans Are all the key jobs covered? If not, should we be developing people right now? By collecting all the information from these sources it is then a case of collating it and determining what needs to be done. But here is another trap. It does not mean we have to go out looking for training courses. If our training and development needs are documented in terms of objectives, that is, what someone should be able to do after they have received the development, rather than 'attend management course' there are usually several options available. For some of these there may be no direct cost. An example may be 'To be able to accurately set up systems for recording and analysing data and prepare reports with recommendations and action', not 'advanced Excel course' With some creative effort you may find there are experts in the organization already who can provide some assistance in the relevant areas without the expense and inconvenience of an external training course.
Also, it is worth noting that when research is conducted into why people prefer certain employers, high up on the list is usually the growth and development opportunities available. Accurately and actively identifying development needs makes good business sense. |
More Articles:1. 25 Leadership Maxims PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.comWord count: 402Summary: Maxims have an illustrious history in the annuals of leadership. Applying the less-is-more principle of expression, maxims can trigger action, guide behavio… 2. Present your statistics in context for more impact “I didn’t have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only 1600 pairs.”—Imelda MarcosEverything’s relative. A million dollars sounds like a lot of money to someone who makes an average salary, but it’s a drop in the bucket to a Warren Buffett or a Bill Gates. Running a hundred metres in a few seconds seems like a miracle to ordinary mortals, but a track and field athlete will work hard to shave even more off that time.Yet presenters often quote statistics without benchmarks, so the audience doesn’t know how… 3. Aligning the Trifocal Value-driven Viewpoints Inside Every Organization By Jidé Odubiyi The three cultures inside every organization are analogous to the story of the three blind mice and the elephant. The perspective of each mouse is framed by the part of the elephant it touches. It was almost a decade ago when Schein (1996) wrote about the three cultures of management. He asserts that there are three communities in organizational setting— executives, engineers, and operators—and they do not fully understand each other. In Shein’s view, when the three communities are not aligned… 4. Service Businesses Can Learn a Lot from Manufacturing By Lance Winslow Many service businesses appear to be operating efficiently enough. But are they really, having been in the service business and worked along side the Manufacturing Sectors of many an industry, it is amazing the insight into true efficiency one can get.For instance an interesting thought exercise is to study and apply the Finite Capacity Scheduling Models of manufacturing to a service business. I did this for my company and saw its many cross over uses in the Mobile Car Washing service sector. … |
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