"Up-Skill" Your Workforce

In today's complex business climate there is a multitude of leaders who are challenged to find solutions to problems brought about by Covid, a labor shortage, massive supply chain problems, demotivated employees working from home, and employees leaving their jobs in droves. In spite of all of these, progressive leaders recognize the need to "up-skill" their workforce and that a business priority should be training the employees that have stuck out the tough times through thick and thin. They recognize the need to double down on learning, be constantly learning, and learn faster than their competitors. This is no easy task. Nevertheless, it is imperative to train and even cross-train our workforce to ensure a successful future, but training must consist of the "right stuff."

For close to 30 years, I've been working as a speaker, trainer, and consultant with some of the best leaders, companies known for World Class Customer Service, and the most successful sales organizations across a wide variety of industries. This experience has caused me to recognize that most companies provide training on leadership, sales, sales communication, customer service, safety, sexual harassment, and managing and motivating employees. What about communication? What about teamwork? What about collaboration??

Another reason I am convinced that leaders provide training on communication, teamwork, and collaboration, is that in my role as a consultant, I am called upon to "problem-solve." Initially, management and I have an initial "Discovery" conversation to help me to determine what, specifically, they want me to accomplish and where the most improvement is needed. Typical questions are: "What, in your opinion, is the cause of some of the problems in the company? What might be holding back productivity and performance? What might be impeding morale?" Most often, the overall response I hear from management is "communication."?

What happens next is I send confidential questionnaires to employees with instructions to reply directly back to me with the promise that their answers are "for my eyes only." This is to ensure they will be candid with me and not hold back. An overwhelming majority answer as such: What, in your opinion, is the cause of some of the problems in the company? Answer: Lack of communication. What might be holding back productivity and performance? Answer: lack of communication. "Where is the most improvement needed," Answer: "communication." "What might be impeding morale? Their answers are "lack of teamwork" or lack of collaboration and communication.

Whether communicating one-on-one, with teams, or inter-departmentally, you would think communication, teamwork, and collaboration should be provided. I have found it is not unless the company is progressive.

Some Companies Just Don't Get it. Some executives and business owners don't realize how much they could improve productivity, management/employee relationships, customer service, and sales if they provided training on these vital areas of business excellence. They are often unaware that most often, conflict situations can be resolved through better communication, teamwork, and collaboration.?

Ideally, the training should include a comprehensive team-building/idea-sharing session on how, specifically, their company can improve in these areas. Why? Employee involvement creates a "buy-in" and individuals are more apt to apply what they have learned. Then, decisions should be made on the ideas and procedures to be implemented.

What Else Employees Want and Need: Today, many employees, especially those working from home, need help with adapting to change, resilience, stress management, mental health, and healthy living. Other areas would be diversity and inclusion, conflict management, money management, and emotional intelligence.

Don't treat training as though it is the flu - if your staff hangs around together long enough, they will catch it. Training is the vaccine that helps to eliminate the stress that is common in a changing world. It demonstrates that you appreciate your employees’ efforts, you want them to feel they are a strong part of your team, and also that you plan on keeping them working for you. In essence, training gives your employees a “shot in the arm.”?

The time and money you invest in training will eventually pay off in business growth and profitability. Need help? Try https://www.christinespeaks.com/teamwork-training or https://www.christinespeaks.com/christine-corelli-webinars