Watch “Why Invest in Training” video here.

Many people wonder why they should invest in training in their business or organization?

People are a powerful resource. Their skills are what build and maintain your organization. But what if they lack the tools they need?

• Imagine a graphic designer working without a computer or with an badly out of date computer
• Imagine a call center employee working without a telephone
• Imagine a woodcutter with a dull axe

Good people with poor tools struggle to accomplish what they need to do. So, we usually do a good job of providing the technology tools for them. Tools like:

• Computers
• Software & apps
• Laptops and tablets
• Phones

But What About Their Non-Tech Tools? #

What about the SKILLS they need to succeed? Many people lack the soft skills needed to succeed. Skills like

• Time management
• People (interpersonal) skills
• Communication skills (writing/verbal)
• Networking
• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Leadership

So Why Aren’t WE Providing the Skills? #

If these skills are so critical to the success of our business and team, why aren’t we providing them?

One of the reasons is that we assume that their education so far has provided the skills they need. But we can’t leave it to universities to provide these skills. Most universities focus on specific skills and miss many of the more general but critical soft skills above.

And, schooling is the beginning of education, not the end. They need to be always honing skills – think of it as sharpening the woodcutter’s axe. We need to help our team members build upon existing skills and gain new ones.

Why Don’t More Companies Train? #

Here are a few of the reasons companies give for not providing more training

• Scared of losing people after training
• Expense with no immediate visual benefit
• Budget preferences is for hard goods such as new computers or for measurable things like marketing

So when you spend money on equipment – you have something you can see and touch for your money. With no visual feedback for training budget expenditures, managers may worry the money is being wasted.

Why It Still Makes Sense To Train #

Are these reasons valid? Let’s look at them and why it makes sense to train.

• Computer expenses are often also wasted. Computers often only last a few years and then need to be replaced
• Computers incur depreciation and need continual upkeep and IT costs
• For marketing expenditures, a lot of marketing dollars are wasted, especially if you aren’t measuring your marketing well.  Only a small percentage of most marketing has a positive ROI
• Even with 50% staff turnover, the remainder of your team will perform a LOT better for YEARS – so the training continues to provide benefits. Staff last longer than computers!
• You can find and use training KPIs (key performance indicators) to measure training effectiveness

I suggest you do a needs analysis of the training needs for your organization and then find trainers to provide the help you need.

And, of course, I am happy to provide your organization with a quote on time management skills training for that portion of your training needs.

– Garland Coulson, “Captain Time”