T. R. Radhakrishnan,

Banking & Management and

NPA Resolution Consultant,

HR Trainer: Corporates, Colleges & Schools,

Freelance Writer and Author,

8, Morya Gardens,

Behind Karnataka Vidya Niketan

Kanadia Road,

Indore. 452016

E-mail: trrk1941 @ gmail.com;

Mobile :(0) 9229248048

 

 

EMPOWER EMPLOYEES THROUGH TRAINING TO ACHIEVE ORGANISATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Roy H. Williams, best-selling author and marketing consultant said “Training is not an expense, but an investment in human capital.” Mohamed Ali, the legendary American boxer being one of the greatest heavy weight champions of all time added his advice on training, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”

Why training is important?     

The need to have knowledge and skilled workers and employees is being felt more and more in the changing commerce and industrial environment globally. Possessing mere knowledge alone is not sufficient to produce result.  Acquiring skills to make use of the knowledge to produce the desired result is more important. Further, knowledge is like a perishable commodity. What we had yesterday may not be of any use today. What we have today, may become redundant tomorrow.  Hence, updating the knowledge and skill to make use of them to get the desired results are very important especially in the changing economic environment. In this connection, training has assumed greater significance and important priority for the industry and commerce and even government organisations. Training and developing people are the strategic focus. In a highly competitive world of business, the objective is to lead the work force to achieve results through effective training. This will not happen unless every person including the top management executives makes a personal investment in leadership, in learning, and in development. This is the central concept around building quality work life, getting the best people to come to work for and to fulfil the individual aspirations for development and progress and also the organizational goals.

The impact of training on business.

It is essential to undertake organizational study and devise need based training programs to suit the various business requirements. In the changing business environment and the emerging domineering position of the business community globally, the success of business depends on how the management makes people connected with the business happy and excited. Further they also have yet another important role to play to meet their social and ethical obligations to the society and the business community. The role of the modern business is to provide ever better products and services in a way that is profitable, ethical, and respects the environment, individuals and the communities in which it operates. It may take 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If it is so, then things are to be done differently. But how you are going to do it?

“Build tomorrow to day.”

Change is the law of nature and every change is a challenge too. Hence, the success or failure depends upon how challenge is going to be met to face the change taking place in the business world, and how it is going to affect the business as well as its environment, ethics, social conditions and individual disposition. Understanding the changes taking place in the national and global business climate, it is very much essential to evaluate the performance of industry and trade and find solutions and strategies to arrest deteriorating trends, if any, and to improve the business to bring order and progress to achieve business excellence. The business is not built tomorrow but today with whatever available now. Therefore, the motto is “Build Tomorrow Today”.

The training programs envisaged by the organization should be focused on the aforesaid principle of “Build Tomorrow Today”. It aims at creating a highly inspired workforce and a progressive and dynamic management system skilled to face the challenges of the changing business environment. The importance is to introduce the most effective and efficient management systems and procedures to achieve institutional and organization excellence along with fulfilling the employees’ individual aspirations. It also aims at preventing organizations from becoming self-defeating. Besides, it also raises the human resources from base floor level motivation to the self-inspiring self-actualization level to bring out exemplary business results.  

Creating opportunities, skills and knowledge.

Training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of all employees including top level executives also. Many employers find the development opportunities expensive. Employees also miss out on work time while attending training sessions, which may delay the completion of projects. Despite the potential drawbacks, training and development provides both the company as a whole and the individual employees with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment.

Every employee is different from one another and each one has his own strength and weaknesses. An effective training programme, if implemented properly and diligently would enhance the strength of the employees further and enable the employees who have some weaknesses to strengthen those skills that each employee needs to improve.   A development program through training brings all employees to a higher level so they all have similar skills and knowledge which when put to use would bring improved performance and better results.  This helps reduce any weak links within the company who rely heavily on others to complete basic work tasks. Providing the necessary training creates an overall knowledgeable staff with employees who can take over for one another as needed, work on teams or work independently without constant help and supervision from others.

Creating cutting-edge for the organisation

Employees who receive the necessary training are better able and equipped to perform their job. They become more aware of safety practices and proper procedures for basic tasks. The training also builds the employee's confidence in their own ability to undertake any task and also a commitment to execute their task effectively because they have a stronger understanding of the industry and the responsibilities of their job. This confidence may push them to perform even better and think of new ideas that help them to excel. Continuous training also keeps the employees on the cutting edge of industry developments. Employees who are competent and on top of changing industry standards help the enterprise hold a position as a leader and strong competitor within the industry.

A structured training and development program ensures that employees have a consistent experience and background knowledge. The consistency is particularly relevant for the company's basic policies and procedures. All employees need to be aware of the expectations and procedures within the company. This includes safety, discrimination and administrative tasks. Putting all employees through regular training in these areas ensures that all staff members not only have exposure to the information but also understand the need to implement them perfectly to achieve the objectives and the results.

Employees with access to training and development programs have the advantage over employees in other companies who are left to seek out training opportunities on their own. The investment in training that a company makes shows the employees they are valued. Besides, any investment in human resources would also bring in a return much more valuable than any other investments made by the enterprise. The training creates a supportive workplace. Employees may gain access to training they wouldn't have otherwise known about or sought out themselves. Employees who feel appreciated and challenged through training opportunities may feel more satisfaction toward their work and will motivate them to achieve personal goals through organizational achievements of the desired objectives.

The ultimate training objectives.

In the ultimate analysis, the veritable realization of the organizational objectives and individual aspirations depend upon following principle: “In management, the first concern of the company is the happiness of the people connected with it. If the people do not feel happy and cannot be made happy, that company does not deserve to exist.” (Kaoru Ishikawa, a renowned Japanese organizational theorist and quality management expert)

Educating the human resources is very important from the point of view business growth and excellence. Swami Vivekananda, the Indian Hindu monk said, “"Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man". Training is an inseparable part of education to make it up to date. Therefore, training of human resources cannot be discounted. If this principle is achieved, it will ensure the loyalty of the human resources and also retaining of such skilled people in the organisational fold. In this connection it worth recalling the observation of Richard Branson (The founder of the Virgin Group and a prominent global figure in retail, music, transport, and spaceflight.), “Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”

The training programme should be focused on the creating happiness in the work environment by introducing a congenial work-eco system and conducive work culture. It aims at creating a highly inspired workforce and a progressive and dynamic management system to achieve Organisational excellence and interpersonal relationship. It also aims at fulfilling the individual aspiration of the employees and preventing the organization from becoming self-defeating. In the final analysis what Malcolm X, the American Black Rights Activist said is worth recalling here, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.”

 “Training is a catalyst that can transform lives, companies, and even nations.” (Tony Robbins-American Motivational Speaker)

T. R. Radhakrishnan