Training can be a lot like football. If you don’t have the right play, and you don’t do the proper training, your team isn’t going to make it to the playoffs. They’re not even going to get a chance to handle the ball.
Image credit: Phaitoon | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It’s sad that most businesses are actually sidelined by the 15th year, but at least 50 percent of them are gone within 5 years. Those stats are pretty sobering, but they don’t have to include you.
Make a game plan, break
Every good training program needs a game plan. Every employee needs to know what’s going on out there in the field. When your employees, even new hire rank-and-filers, see what’s going on out there, they’re more prone to take responsibility for the success of the company as a whole.
Most successful companies learned long ago that when you link an individual’s work to business objective, you see positive results. Goals get met, and morale is built as employees feel a sense of attachment to the company.
Training companies can help you make that job easier by creating customized training programs. Of course, you can always design these programs in-house, but that takes away a lot of the productive effort in your company – better to outsource something like this and get your team ready for action.
Put starters on special teams
Don’t feel obligated, in today’s world of egalitarianism, to be “fair” to all of your employees. Not every employee at your company is a “star” or top performer – it’s a fact of life. We’re not all equal in abilities. That’s fine.
Focus on putting your best performers on special projects. Have them solving the tough challenges. Use everyone else as efficiently as possible to carry out the necessary tasks needed to push the company forward. At the end of the day, this is not a popularity contest. This is about making money.
Measure performance
In football, coaches tend to review game films meticulously, looking for errors and opportunities for improvement. Every player’s performance and productivity is scrutinized. They’re graded based on how well they execute plays. This is something you can “coach” in your own company.
Periodically review your employees’ performance. Go through their service record with a fine-tooth comb. Look for areas where they are strong, as well as where they could use improvement. Remember to reward good behavior and productivity, as well as provide constructive feedback when improvements are needed.
Assign roles and dependencies
You can always tell when a company is disorganized. No one seems to have a defined job description. Like football teams, these companies tend not to last very long. “Play your role” is a familiar rant that coaches often use to motivate players to work together as a team. Use it in your company – keep employees focused on their roles within the business.
Trust your QB
Your best players, your “QBs,” have the ability to quickly read a defense and change plays at a moment’s notice. This is something that you need to learn how to do with your top executives. Trust your best players to make adjustments as needed without looking over them every second. Trusting their judgment requires that you have an objective view of their performance, abilities, and skills.
About the Author:
Anthony Buckley is a veteran supervisor. He enjoys turning his successful methods into practical business blog posts. Learn more about employee training options on the K Alliance website.
CMO Contributor
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Hi Ms Maricel. I miss your own writings about blogging, freelance writing and social media. Hoping to read some of these topics. Thanks!
Hey there, Mon. You can also visit this blog for more of my writing: http://www.sourcingpen.com. Thanks for sticking with me. I appreciate it. 🙂