Henry Ford, the business magnate who founded the Ford Motor Company said, “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay!” If you are in a leadership role you have probably heard this famous quote at some point in your career, and the decision of whether to train or not to train your people.
The Classic Dilemma
You have probably also heard these familiar arguments:
- It is expensive!
- My people are so busy right now, they don’t have time for it.
- They work just fine, why bother?
There is truth to these statements. High-quality training is not cheap; your employees’ plates are always full; and they are doing their job pretty well. Things are good, so why invest money and time into something that is working just fine?
Because “just fine” is no longer good enough.
Investing in People to Attract and Retain Talent
For more and more employees, a pay cheque is far from being the only benefit of having a job. They are looking for meaning, inspiration, and opportunities to grow. And this is what learning gives them. Investing in people speaks louder than any declaration: I see you, I care about you, and I want you to succeed! When you contemplate whether to train or not train your people, consider the benefits that come to the organization when you invest in employees.
Learning as a Long Term Strategy
How do you choose the right program, one that fits the employee needs in the best way possible?
- Determine those needs. Talk to your team members. What area do they need to be supported in the most?
- One-day workshops are very tempting, and they will fit the bill if you are looking only for an exchange of information. But if your goals are significant changes in behaviour, skill development, and elimination of limiting beliefs, a one-and-done approach won’t help. Changes don’t happen overnight. Paced, spaced, multisensory programs delivered over many months provide the best outcomes.
- The best-case scenario is that your employees are enthusiastic about the training. But if someone is skeptical or doesn’t feel they need development, should you force it? Maybe – because a highly professional coach and facilitator will find the right approach and be able to demonstrate its value. However, if the skeptic will not come around perhaps they really didn’t need the training or they are not the right person for your organization.
It’s not always possible to calculate the exact ROI for training, especially for soft skills. Take care of your people first if you want to ensure that your customers are well cared for. Contact us to learn more about what multisensory learning can do for you.
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