Don’t Cut Back on Training!

Don’t Cut Back on Training!

During tough economic times, it’s easy to cut back. But cutting training can have serious disadvantages.

Good training attracts good people who can grow with your company. Training on safety, plants, maintenance, customer service and design are all important to educating your team.

It’s not unusual to cut back on manpower, purchases, and many other costs when times are tough and business is down. Let’s face it – this year is a challenging one! And when the going gets tough, you need your team to be at their best. As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

That’s why it’s more important than ever to realize how important training is for your company. When you postpone maintenance or sales training, you’re putting your company’s assets at risk because there is a much higher likelihood that there will be:

More accidents
More mistakes, and
More equipment breakdowns when equipment is not maintained properly.

Specifically, your sales force needs to be more constructive with their time spent with clients who are likely to clients. High-pressure sales won’t work in slow economic times. But clients will value good guidance and consulting. When you arm your sales force with higher level training, you can raise the level of the projects you are securing.

We’ve noticed that during the worst economic times, some of the biggest projects occur. It’s surprising. This is a result of the economic transfer of wealth. Those who had money it may lose it or fear losing it, so they hoard it, and don’t invest in their property. But others often benefit from a downturn and want to do something with the money before it is taken away by taxes.

Have your front line sales force ready for when that unexpected client walks in the door. We are hearing these stories from our Kinman Institute Alumni. They are calling us to ask where they can buy large quantities of shrubs direct in semi-trailer loads, because of some very large, individual jobs they are doing.

The same holds true for construction and installation work — devaluing education translates directly into devaluing on-site performance standards. We’ve seen it often — both employers and employees unconsciously start trying to cut corners to make “the profit number.” At times like this, employees try to please management by making adjustments to help the company’s bottom line. They think they can cut corners, or sell it for less, or do a little less. But that only results in lower standards and quality on the project, as well as a higher chance of on-site or travel-to-site accidents, costly mistakes, and equipment malfunctions. Training reinforces your company’s standards and goals, and keeps a positive momentum going that raises morale.

A team of motivated and well-trained workers will work quickly, more efficiently, and more safely.

So in addition to the cost of lost manpower, lost time on site, and possibly out of order equipment and repairs, you may have additional liability costs because of those accidents or mistakes. Is your company so strong economically that it can weather these risks? Or is it wiser to make sure your team is trained, capable, and ready for the work you have?

In other words, consider the possible high cost of doing nothing vs. the potential high value that training provides.

Stronger team, stronger workers
Aside from the many potential risks and costs possible from cutting training, there are so many internal, company benefits you may claim by continuing to invest in it, such as:

Greater productivity and better work product
Reinforces company moral and conviction things will be ‘OK’
Employees are more motivated and effective
Employees understand your business and goals better
Reflects your corporate culture and shares your personal vision
Enhances your company image and attracts motivated people
Makes your project work more innovative
Gives you more corporate capabilities, and opens up more opportunities

Better Customers, Better Projects
Look at the best companies in the industry and you’ll see companies that offer regular training. The result? It’s made them more successful, in several ways:

Better work = satisfied customers
Satisfied customers = more opportunities for more business
More opportunities = more revenue
Good training attracts good, young people who can grow with your company

Regular training will help reduce accidents with crew and equipment, and teach your team how to do their jobs much better.

If you can’t train and ‘grow’ employees internally, you’ll be forced to find that valuable experience outside, and those people cost a lot of money in higher salaries and benefits. And don’t forget to add in the cost of recruiting them, and replacing them if they don’t adjust to your company’s culture.

Wise employers will use this time to reinforce their teams and add more ‘bench strength’ for stronger performance later this year, into next year, and into the future. If you choose to cut back on your training, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to many risks beyond today’s crazy economic situation.

For more information on how the Kinman Institute Seminars can help you grow and manage your business, please email us: cynthia@kinmaninstitute.com, visit: www.kinmaninstitute.com, or call: 614-764-8733(TREE).