Training is important and can potentially be life changing. Just ask Tom Hanks character Larry Crowne in the film of the same title. There are very real benefits to training:-
- Staff learn new skills
- Increases motivation, retention, confidence and job satisfaction
- Staff refresh skills and keep up to date with new information
- Can improve ‘soft skills ‘ such as leadership and communication
- Customers benefit from better service
- A comprehensive professional development strategy helps recruit top candidates
- Increases efficiency, time management and productivity
- Public courses also allow them to network and hear best practice from their own and other sectors
As a return on investment (ROI) ongoing training has an impact on productivity and consequently bottom line. In Dubai many companies understand the value of training and their training departments work hard to present options that meet their specific needs. For a better ROI they need to source training providers that:-
- Meet their employee and organisational needs.
- Have courses that cover the skills required (take time to read course objectives).
- Can customize their training and apply it to their industry.
- Can provide the training when you need it.
- Demonstrate good value.
- Offer ongoing support.
- Have a good market reputation.
- Have quality trainers experienced in the local Gulf market.
- Can help identify the ‘skills gap’ your employees might have. Do you know what they don’t know?
One of the major objections to training “I don’t have time” is actually indicative of the need for training. If well supported by management, training initiatives would not be the cause of employees breaking out in a rash thinking about all the work they are missing whilst on a training course. The importance of scheduling training in advance is a solution to this and most providers will have a yearly training calendar at least for their public courses and would only be too delighted to meet to discuss tailored programs. Booking in advance can also give employees the time they need to plan/arrange/delegate while they are in the training room. Most employees will want to engage in further training, especially if they are able to gain approval for courses they wish to attend.
Michelle Lewis-Smith the lead training adviser for ISM training recognizes this as a common objection she receives and added,
I can honestly say that getting my clients to attend their 2nd course with ISM is a matter of ‘when can I register’ rather than ‘I don’t have time’. It’s always great to see our clients progression in their career too, over the years you slowly watch their job title change from Sales Executive to Sales Manager to Sales Director to General Manager etc….. These are people that are not afraid to admit that they need a little help/guidance in their development and of course these people act on it rather than worry about it.
Now whilst that may be banging our own drum, it is true that the individuals that engage in lifelong learning do have an outlook that can keep pace and adapt to the many changes we all experience in our workplace . The staff that know the value of investing time in training will be amongst the most innovative, motivational , able employees with strong performance records and increased company loyalty.
The big question is how to keep your business sustainable and marginalizing the impact training can provide is terminal. If you aren’t constantly developing your own or your staff’s skills you can bet that your competitors are.