Slashing Training budgets.
Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain.


Skill sets are not keeping pace with corporate and technical development. Slashing budgets earmarked for training and personal development programs in downtimes can result in you or your company at a competitive disadvantage when the economy and demand turns around these dollars wisely spent can result in savings in the long run.

The belief that unspent training dollars are saved is a misconception. The speed required to respond to increased customer demands can result in spending of saved training dollars and considerable more in restarting the development process in yourself and employees.

Companies may lose market position and end in a considerable market disadvantage. Experts say "If you're ready to go when the market picks up you'll be ahead of your competition".

An individual will be ready to exceed the demands of their career. Waiting for the recovery before restarting personal development programs is not an option for those on the success career path.

Even now companies in many sectors are having trouble finding employees with needed specific skill sets.  Outsourcing can help but outsource providers have the same problem in providing required expertise from a diminishing talent pool. When recruiting or being recruited personal development plans are an important aspect of the hiring process for both the prospective employer and employee.

Many Managing Directors of respected industry leading companies believe: "If training is not part of your employee development plan or your employee curriculum you are going to lose staff".

On the employee side you are going to move more often if it's not in place.

Training is an important way to demonstrate the employee's commitment to the job and the employer's commitment to invest in staff and to continue to build upon their skill sets.  The one skill set that is the base upon others is built is personal communication, interpersonal verbal, presentation skills and written skills.

Verbal interpersonal communication and presentation skills are the key to well developed self esteem and resulting self confidence.  Even if you never have contact with customers or make presentations an employees self confidence and a satisfactory ability to express them effects their relations with fellow associates, supervisors and employers.  It is the lubricant in the personal growth process that leads to attaining objectives of both the employee and employer.

Cost efficiencies can be achieved by monitoring outcomes achieved by personal development plans and the resultant training.  Employers and employees can be careful that courses are substantive and result in true measurable outcomes and are not just "entertainment" under the guise of "motivation".

Lesson plans and course outlines must be provided before approval of the course. While technical skill sets development is an important part of personal development plans so-called "soft skills" such as personal communication should be included.

A balanced program should be structured to include:
  • Technical training
  • Management Development
  • Supervisory skills
  • Organizational development
  • Communication skill sets
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Time Management
Training is an investment NOT an expense.

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