Training and Development: Why It’s Necessary!

What’s your biggest asset?

You Already Know.

Have you ever heard a company say, “Employees are our biggest asset?” When I hear that, I want to know what they are doing to back that up. Job seekers, in particular, are impressed if they learn a company is investing in their people to make them more efficient and productive. That’s exactly what great training and development programs are designed to accomplish.

 Attract and Retain Employees

 One of the biggest benefits of a training and development program is it’s effectiveness in attracting and retaining the best employees. Knowing an organization is willing to spend money on training and development not only attracts the interest of excellent candidates, but it will make your current employees feel valued and even increase loyalty. A combination of internal and external training (perhaps collaborating with a local college or university) will pay long-term dividends. It also will improve your reputation in the community which certainly will help your recruiting efforts.

 Build Your Bench Strength

We’ve talked about this…

We’ve talked in other blogs about how disruptive it can be when you have to replace a valued employee. Having a program that trains and develops workers will go a long way to minimize that disruption by providing a smooth transition. A successful training and development program provides you with a pipeline of qualified employees ready to step up and be rewarded with a promotion. You’ll find it’s a lot cheaper than starting over in the hiring process.

 Do Your Research

Survey Your Employees

They know what they need!

Have you thought about surveying your employees to see what they would like to see in terms of training or development efforts? It will give you some great feedback and allow you to tailor a program that is effective and appreciated. You’ll find it will also increase communication, collaboration and teamwork. It’s a great chance for employees to show you skills you didn’t even know they had.

Happy Ever After On-boarding

When You Know you’ve started at a great job!

There is no better feeling than when you go home from your first day at a new job and you tell your family you’re confident you made the right career decision. Top organizations understand it’s in their best interest to make their on-boarding process both welcoming and effective. Here are some things to keep in mind from the new hire’s perspective:

 It’s all about Communication

Make sure you reach out to your new employee between the job offer and day one. Hearing from their new employer gives positive confirmation they left their previous role for good reason.

 Get Housekeeping Matters Completed Early


Many times half of the new hire’s first day is spent in paperwork.

I would suggest you be proactive and get that paperwork completed ahead of time.

 Set Expectations in Advance

When you start a new job, it’s like “drinking out of a firehose.” It is process information overload. Go ahead and get some of the simple expectations out of the way in advance. Answer a new hire’s questions such as: What’s the dress code? Where should I park? Will I be working a full day on my first day? Who are the key players in the organization? Can you provide me with an organizational chart?

 Make Onboarding a Team Effort


A new hire shouldn’t be meeting with just one person the entire first day.

A new hire shouldn’t be meeting with just one person the entire first day. They should be talking with a collective group of key players. This will break up the monotony of the day. This exposure to the organization will go a long way to making the new person feel welcomed and engaged.

 Save time for Questions

New hires will have questions so make sure your organization has time set aside for discussion. The first day isn’t the time to rush people through a cookie-cutter orientation program.

 Make a Plan for 30, 60 and 90 Days

If you set expectations in stages, the new hire won’t be overwhelmed and will clearly see goals and objectives. Have questions prepared for each stage so you can gather feedback on how the new hire is doing. Moreover, this will help you improve your overall onboarding process.