Training Programs: For Those Who Think They Don’t Need Them
Hi there fellow leaders. Here’s more on training employees. I want to start today by pointing out something I see with a lot of business owners who run smaller operations in terms of employee number (10 or less). What I see from these leaders, whether they are sole proprietors or in partnerships, is the same misconception: “We’re not a big enough company to worry a lot about training our employees. We’ll just catch it as we go along.” Ever heard that? Ever said that? Think about this:
If you don’t decide to spend a few hours a month training your employees, you’re deciding to spend a few hours a month stuck at the company store instead of being out to dinner with your family. If you don’t decide to spend a few hours training some of your key people in doing business the right way, you’re going to spend a few hours this month undoing mistakes and placating angry customers instead. So, which would you rather be doing? Training or paying the price in time for not training. Remember the old TV ad, “Pay me now or pay me later”? Seldom have I heard Madison Avenue come up with a better phrase to describe business life. So, train your people.
It doesn’t have to be that complicated, either. Partner an experienced employee with a lesser experienced one for a couple days, and reward the lead employee with a dinner out or something. Use one of the zillion training videos available on this or other websites. Hire a copywriter to interview all your department heads for a couple days and then create not a company handbook, but a “work procedures” book. The possibilities are numerous. But train your people, small business owner. Don’t you want to get out to dinner more often?
As always, if you have any stories or questions to share, I’d love to hear them!
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