Training for Success
It is sometimes difficult to invest in training an employee only to see them leave. In the last 5 years I have seen over 20 of our staff members leave our organization for better job opportunities. They were not let go; they chose to leave because they were offered a growth opportunity. Some were actively recruited by other supervisors in other departments inside our organization. One former employee said he would have never been able to get his new job if he had not gone through our training program.
“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.”
~Henry Ford
Investing in training your team is an investment in both their development and the success of your organization. Even if some team members eventually move on, there are several reasons why it’s still valuable to train them:
Increased Productivity: Well-trained employees are generally more productive. They can work more efficiently, produce higher-quality work, and require less supervision. This alone is a strong reason for training your team.
Enhanced Morale: Offering training shows your team that you value their growth and development. This can boost morale and foster a positive work environment, which can lead to higher retention rates. I have seen this personally. Since implementing our Landscape University training program in 2013, retention rates have gone up.
Attracting Talent: Offering opportunities for growth and development can make your organization more attractive to potential employees. This can help you attract top talent, even if some turnover is inevitable.
Mastering Skills: In Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, he states that when a person feels they are mastering the skills needed to do their work, they are much more self-motivated. Training your team ensures that there are qualified individuals ready to step into leadership roles when needed. This can mitigate the impact of turnover in critical positions.
At times it may be frustrating to invest time and resources into training employees who may eventually leave. However, the benefits of doing so often outweigh the costs. Fostering a culture of learning and growth can have long-term benefits for both your team and your organization as a whole.
“ Every enterprise is a learning and teaching institution. Training and development must be built into it on all levels—training and development that never stops. If you think training is expensive, try ignorance.”
~ Peter Drucker
Keep growing and sharing with your team.
Jeff
