Marcus Straub
People are at the core of successful companies. The strength of their mindset combined with their skills allow them to operate at their highest levels on a consistent basis.
Human capability expands, contracts or remains static depending on whether it receives the stimulation it needs to grow and develop or not. The phrase “I’m in a rut” is born of an individual’s languishing potential. Owners, team members and businesses get in ruts, too. This must be overcome if they are to expand their potential.
The way out of a stagnant state such as this is through ongoing learning opportunities designed to expand the skills and mindset of the team as well as professional development that challenges and expands the capabilities of your team members over time.
To illustrate this point, consider any successful sports team. Training and practice are the norm, not the exception. The teams that achieve the greatest levels of success have the best coaches and trainers. The work they do with the team is consistent and high quality. In this pursuit of excellence, everything is designed and executed with the sole intention of bringing out the very best in each player and the team as a whole. Wouldn’t it make sense to run your business the same way?
Consistent trainings are a vital component in providing opportunities for team members to learn, grow and develop their abilities. However, when trainings are done they’re often sporadic and lack vital followup and follow through. For any training program to be effective, it must be conducted regularly and delivered by a competent and engaging professional. In addition, participants must be willing to learn and the training reinforced in day-to-day operations.
People come alive with clarity, direction, excitement and motivation when working with a dynamic trainer and coach who connects with them. Those who desire to learn and grow stand out: they listen intently, ask questions and reach for even more with open eyes and receptive minds. The reality is, most people want to learn. When given the opportunity and their learning is supported in an ongoing and consistent way, they become more competent.
Trainings also help identify team members who aren’t motivated, who don’t want to learn and grow and present obstacles to the success the rest of the team is working to achieve.
Once these people are identified, further work can be done with them at a one-on-one level to help them become an asset. If it’s determined this isn’t going to happen, letting these individuals go positions your company to hire up and bring on potential top performers.
While providing trainings that solely enhance the technical skills of your team are better than nothing, it’s the trainings that teach your people how to manage their minds that are far more effective and long-lived. If you truly desire to grow and stretch the capabilities of yourself and your team, trainings must be challenging, engaging and empowering to the very thought processes of those in attendance.
One of the best ways to assist yourself and your team members is through targeted trainings to overcome gaps in attitudes, behaviors, business acumen, motivation and skills. Unbiased and statistically accurate assessments effectively identify specific gaps in individuals and teams.
Armed with this vital information, a professional development expert targets areas that constitutes obstacles to top performance — the areas that are in most need of development.
Targeted, effective trainings infuse your company with new energy, information, perspectives, strategies and tools. When talented and motivated individuals are stimulated through trainings and their growth and development are supported along the way through coaching and professional development initiatives, they rise to new heights in their capabilities and performance. When this is coupled with a sustained internal effort, the return on your investment is huge.
The ultimate success of any team depends on this highly effective approach of coaching, training and targeted professional development. When you research the greatest companies, you find a solid business model that includes ongoing and effective training as a key component in their exceptional successes.
As you work to expand your team members’ skills and mindset in 2018, ensure a greater return on investment by making high-quality trainings, coaching and professional development an ongoing part of your business culture. The payoff will be more effective team members, improved customer satisfaction, growth, reduced turnover and increased revenue.
