| Don’t worry, this isn’t an article about how bad | | | | 2. Ensure training is targeted and necessary. Focus |
| things are out there. I think we hear the “r” word | | | | your training efforts on the parts of your business that |
| enough, along with news about the latest layoffs, | | | | are the weakest or in areas where employees want |
| housing issues and daily stock market dips. | | | | to make personal improvement. Don’t waste the |
| Amidst the talk about how times are tough and the | | | | company’s money and employees’ time on |
| economy is in the dumps, there is still a way for | | | | unnecessary training. |
| businesses to turn the economic downswing into an | | | | 3. Measure results. Come up with hard facts and |
| opportunity. Right now, smart business leaders are | | | | figures to show you’re getting the best ROI for |
| using this time to focus on employee training and | | | | your training dollar. Executives will find it much harder to |
| development. | | | | cut programs that show, in numbers, that they work. |
| Instead of putting employee training on the chopping | | | | 4. Seek out quality training providers. If you choose to |
| block when budget cuts roll around, fight to keep your | | | | use outside training vendors, do your research to |
| programs alive. Use the downturn as a rare chance to | | | | ensure that their program will deliver positive and |
| improve your team from the inside out by offering | | | | measurable results. |
| more employee training and development opportunities. | | | | |
| Here are five tips to keep your training programs | | | | 5. Stay flexible. Not all training programs will fit the |
| thriving while your company is tightening its belt: | | | | unique needs of your organization. Most “one size |
| | | | fits all” employee training programs won’t work |
| 1. Look at employee training as a business investment. | | | | as well as one that is tailored to fit your situation. |
| Think of employee training like the stock market: by | | | | Employee training and development should be treated |
| putting money into the market when stocks are down, | | | | like every other business endeavor your organization is |
| you’ll make a better return on investment when the | | | | involved in - results-driven and measurable. No matter |
| market turns around. Investing in developing | | | | what the stock market looks like, work to keep |
| employees’ skills now will put you ahead of the | | | | employee development in the budget and a top priority |
| competition when the economy improves. | | | | for your organization to ensure success in the future. |