Training Justification
A Baldridge Award-winning CEO of a major corporation reported that
his company provided 120 hours of training to all new employees. When
asked what happens if you train them and they LEAVE and go somewhere
else, his reply was, “What happens if you DON’T train them
and they STAY?” Training is not a cost. It is an investment. It
really doesn’t matter what we pay for an investment. What’s
relevant is what we get in return.
Managers often ask about the specific payback for training investments.
Everybody knows there are obvious benefits to training staff, but far
too often it is training that suffers most through deferment or postponement
because of budget concerns. But isn’t this false economy? The
price of training may be high, but the price of ignorance is far higher.
According to a recent American Management Association survey, there
is a direct correlation between increased training activities and improvements
in worker productivity, profitability, and shareholder value in both
the short and long term. New ideas, technical skills, productivity enhancements,
and leadership development are all important to create a government
that functions like a business, a clear objective of the current administration!
The benefits of training fall into three major categories:
- The Direct Knowledge Gained category includes
the benefits of training that supplement skills and abilities that
are primary to the position which the employee currently holds. This
type of training is vital to the agency’s ability to achieve
its mission and strategic goals. A thorough knowledge of process and
method is essential for optimization of performance.
- Indirect Knowledge Gained includes the benefits
of training that allow employees to view their position from the perspective
of the manager, the co-worker, and the customer. This type of training
promotes understanding among divisions, agencies, and departments.
By exposing staff to difficult tasks performed by others, an overall
better appreciation among all is realized. Examples of this type of
training are supervisory training for non-supervisory staff, accounting,
or procurement and contracting to staff not specifically required
to perform those tasks, and customer service and leadership training
for anyone.
- Increased Self-Esteem includes the benefits of
training that allow employees to comprehend the value of their contributions
to the organization. The way that training is retained and adapted
has an impact on motivation. Training is really a foundation for self-development,
from which comes motivation. Training provides the spark for all employees
to improve and strive for their own success and the success of the
agency, and this spark is a morale-booster for everyone with whom
employees interact.
Federally Employed Women’s (FEW) Regional Training Program (RTP)
provides
outstanding training in many of these areas. No other training institution
provides such a variety of high quality training at such a reasonable
cost.
If you have requests for reasonable accommodations, need additional
information or if have questions, please contact Sherry Henderson Sherry.Henderson@va.gov 720-231-7660
or Gaye Freeman Gaye.Freeman@va.gov 720-427-9295.
