Training Towards Talent

What is the bedrock of every organisation?

Text: Jayadev Menon    Photos: Various Sources

Let’s start with a Case Study

Over the last decade, Anand’s successful Readymade Garments business had grown into a multicity network of popular outlets. When he had just 2 showrooms a custom-made software served his Accounting and Stock Management needs, but now it had become a liability and on the advice of his Chartered Accountant he decided to invest in an ERP application that would manage not just Accounts and Stock but all other aspects of the business. In the run-up to the purchase, Anand made doubly sure that every vendor was reminded to include training and hand-holding of his staff after implementation – he put that in the contract.

Anand was only ensuring that his high-cost capital investment is protected and would start paying back from Day – 1; he was leaving nothing to chance. But, can the same be said about the most expensive investment an organization makes – investments that can think and feel. Yes, I am speaking about the organisation’s manpower? CEO’s love to say that people are their biggest assets but how many organisations have a long-term, comprehensive plan to skill their employees for optimum performance? When Anand was approached by a Consultancy with a year-long plan to train and coach his showroom staff he said they were adequately equipped to deal with customers and to manage processes – the belief is that since only experienced resources are recruited they need to perform at the highest level without further knowledge and skill inputs.

The Plan

Like machines human beings too need oiling, repair, fine-tuning and upgrading; and they also need to be handled with care. Yes, the methods used for machines and human beings are different but timely interventions are essential and indispensable in both cases. Many of the MNCs and larger Indian organisations have a plan to train employees on an ongoing basis, but owners of Small and Medium-sized businesses often neglect talent development. Their contention is that today’s manpower don’t stay long enough in one job for owners to find it worthwhile to invest in their development, but in the same breath they would complain that so much time is lost in covering up for the mistakes made by the same employees – low productivity, delays in completion of job, inability to handle pressure, rework and absenteeism are some of the complaints Business Owners have about their employees.

The writing is on the wall but is the Head Honchos reading the message?

Today’s employees expect more from their jobs and their employers. They no longer wish to be just pen pushers, work has to be meaningful and result – oriented. Resources today are better educated and more aware of the world around them. They have easy access to information and the expectations are much higher – recognition and growth need to be faster for them to stay motivated and engaged. Organisations need to change in order to meet these expectations. A short-term view will only mean that owners have to cope with more manpower losses and a demotivated team. MSME Business Owners like Anand need to develop a talent development agenda and push ahead with their program for each employee – avoiding training just because employees leave isn’t going to help.

Yes, some of the old training methods aren’t relevant today and there is a need for a fresh approach to keep the participant interested. Training can be used as incentive, recognition, motivation and retention tool. We can speak at length about talent developments strategies, approaches and methods, but in another article. This tweet from Bill Gates popped up on my phone just as I was putting the finishing touches to this article, “The best investment any of us can ever make is in the lives of others. The returns are tremendous.” I am sure Mr Gates meant it in a broader sense and appealed to the good in all of us, but the essence of his quote fits pat with the message I wish to convey to Business Owners and Chief Executives in Kerala.

Digital Copy: https://goo.gl/E4YMnD