Training for Older Workers - INNOVATE NOW !!!!

I have always been one to think about the future and create opportunities though innovation. As my former CEO once said, "Bill can create something out of nothing and make it relevant." I cherish that comment and have tried to continue to liver up to that saying ever since. 


So, that being said, I think about the the future of older workers and more so the concerns about people who have been out of work for more than 1 year.  I thought of a great way for corporations to earn many points in their respective communities by offering these valuable out of work people training. Yes, not training provided by the unemployment offices or state funded programs but by the people who are current in the T&D areas and who are active in the market. 


I know you are going to say where are the corporations that slashed their T&D & HR budgets going to get the funding? Well, think about it for a minute. What better way to market your company locally and nationally than by self-funding workshops and training programs for these really valuable workers. It will help them get current with software, project management, CAD, engineering, MS development, and the like and who knows, they may even be your future employee. 


So, get on the side of progress/innovation and offer training and skills based learning for these workers. Be a leader in your community and blaze a new progressive trail. Open up your on-line training systems for them and  classroom based learning now.  


This is a call to innovate at a real level, the worker you provide these skills based learning to may be your employee tomorrow. You thoughts are appreciated, email me at wgstevens2@gmail.com and let me know what you think!!!

Have You Hardwired Your Workforce?

In an economy like what we are experiencing today, good news today, bad news in Europe tomorrow after the bell,  one of the first budget cuts we see is usually in training & development. As all HR and astute CEOs know, training is one of the key life bloods of an organization that builds your workforce skills and is a launch pad for growth.One of the key elements for continuing training of your human capital is instilling that training is important to them and that they should take the time to expand their skills, grow their competencies, and make it a ritual in their working lives. It is an investment in their capital assets. So how do you do this? Here are a couple of important guidelines:

1. make sure there is a solid training strategy that ties to the corporations' goal/objectives
   keep the training budget as much in place as possible
2. make sure your managers buy into the training strategy
3. managers must emphasize that training is important to them
4. offer eLearning options for your employees through companies like SkillSoft
5. provide time each week for learning
6. show the outcome of skills training so people see the end result
7. post notices on your intranet regarding skills training
8. make sure that you subsidize if not pay in full the training that people take that is relevant to their current position or one that in next in line for them. There has to be a solid ROI.

These are just a few areas where you as managers and leaders of organizations can ensure that you build and maintain the most competent workforce that will help you drive revenues and profits. It will also help reduce turnover and build loyalty within the organization.