Personal development

Few people of attainments take easily to a plan of self-improvement. Only a few stubborn ones will blunder on, painfully, out of the luxuriant world of their pretensions into the desert of mortification and reward. Patrick White

Personal development is about the progression of people with regard to their skills, experience and the way in which they approach their work. Organizations need to develop the job related skills of their employees. However, general skills are also required, such as report writing, presentation techniques, telephone manner and interpersonal relationships. Although all staff can benefit from some form of training, there are those people who have limited scope or motivation for self-development.

The training lifecycle: Training can take a number of forms, which are appropriate to the stages of a person's employment.
Induction - with new employees being told what the organization is all about and their role in it. Many organizations spend much time training new recruits with Japanese companies being particularly good. Some organizations take a year over induction training with time spent by all new joiners liaising with customers and actually making the products or delivering the services. However, most organizations lose momentum when it comes to training existing employees.
On going - throughout a person's career, including the upgrading of skills and knowledge through 'on-the-job' training, classroom lectures, or self-study. This may be given by the organization itself or externally. It may involve employees attending colleges, training companies or being seconded to other organizations. Surveys have shown that for most organizations training is at a maximum for the 20-30 year age group, with those in their 50s receiving half the amount and those in their 60s less than a quarter.
Termination - at the end of an individual's career many organizations provide training to help employees adjust to retirement.

The effectiveness of training: While perks and benefits are soon taken for granted and the effect on morale short-lived, training improves long-term job satisfaction and the increased career prospects gives morale a longer-term lift. Organizations which value training are generally more successful. The way training is delivered also needs attention. A specific course or student may be more suited to a particular style of learning - classroom, practical workshop, individual self-study, or hands-on. The right training delivered in the wrong way will not have the desired result! >>>