Don't Throw Money Away On Training - Planning Well Will Cut Costs and Increase ValueLearn Management Articles on management-info.biz. Don't Throw Money Away On Training - Planning Well Will Cut Costs and Increase Value article will help answer your questions on Management Articles.We at management-info.biz specialize in Management Articles. Management Articles at management-info.biz provides the most up to date news and articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
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. How to Leverage Your Strengths for Peak Performance By Dr. Robert Karlsberg Ask almost any business leader how to most effectively develop people and build teamwork and you’ll hear, “tap into employees’ strengths.” Yet when it comes to their own careers, many managers still focus the majority of their personal development efforts on shoring up areas of weakness.Sometimes this is due to well meaning critiques by superiors. Other times managers moving up the career ladder try to emulate those who have gone before.While all managers need to hone their communication and … 2. The Key to Successful Performance Objectives By Josh Greenberg Have you ever tried to drive somewhere without proper directions? This almost always turns out to be a frustrating experience. Sure, if you stop and ask enough people you may eventually reach your target destination, but think of all the wasted energy, time, and resources needed to accomplish your goal.Let's take this concept and move it to the realm of managing a business. Does it make sense to expect your employees to reach a goal or strategic objective without providing them a road map of w… 3. People Literacy By Susan Cullen Every Manager has experienced the frustration of not understanding why one management approach that works beautifully with one employee is ineffective with another. That’s because what we think would be motivating isn’t always motivating to someone else.The same principle applies to client and co-worker relationships. We “click” or connect with some individuals and understand each other. But we also work with individuals who approach things differently. Research shows there are four differ… 4. A Rare Leadership Skill: Dealing With People Who Want Out By Offering Crowns For Convoy 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: 660Summary: Most leaders eventually have to contend with people who want to leave their team or organization. How you deal with such situations can be one of the most i… |
||||
