SCI Training: Earn more by learning more


  • March 9, 2016
  • /   Reggie Dogan
  • /   training-development

Photo by Michael O’Donovan

People need to feel they are valued by the company or organization they work for, and training is seen by employees as a true expression of their worth.

Research shows that investing in people development is a powerful way to empower workers in their current role, support them in their career aspirations and ultimately keep employees longer.

Even though there is a shortage of well-paying jobs available in today’s economy, many people believe they would be doing better if they had more training.

On his first day as a “full-time volunteer for the community,” Quint Studer, founder of Pensacola, Fla.-based Studer Community Institute, was the main speaker at a free training workshop, “Leading and Managing Change.”

During the March 1 event, more than 500 people learned better ways to handle change in their own role, as well as guiding others to do the same. The training session focused on increasing the understanding of the various aspects of organizational change and offered effective strategies to insert a sense of urgency, lead through the process and minimize resistance.

The Studer Community Institute hosted Leading and Managing Change at WSRE.

The Studer Community Institute hosted Leading and Managing Change at WSRE.

In March 7 edition of The Atlantic magazine, Ronald Brownstein in “What Do Americans Believe Will Help Them Get Ahead," suggests that people believe they will “earn more if they learn more.”

A new Atlantic Media/Pearson Opportunity Poll indicates that many Americans … appear to have internalized the conclusion that in the information age, they will earn more if they learn more. Across racial lines, a significant majority of American adults said in the poll that they believe they could obtain a better and higher-paying job if they acquired more education or training.

Survey respondents listed skills and wages as their top concerns when identifying barriers to “achieving your personal goals in life so far.”

Slow wage growth was identified as the No. 1 obstacle overall, followed by a lack of good jobs, insufficient education, insufficient technical skills or a dearth of opportunities for promotion.

According to the article, whites were less likely than blacks or Hispanics to see any of these as major obstacles. Asian Americans split for the overall trend, placing a lack of technical skills at the top of their list of concerns.

Brownstein writes:

Whatever their views about the relevance of their current education to their job, 86 percent of African Americans, 81 percent of Hispanics, and 67 percent of both Asian Americans and whites agreed that “If I obtained more training or education I would be able to get a better or higher paying job.” Whites with a college degree (at 59 percent) were somewhat less likely to say they would benefit from more training, but this consensus extended broadly not only across racial lines, but throughout workers at all stages of their career. Over four-in-five Millennials, nearly seven-in-ten members of Generation X and almost six-in-ten baby boomers said they believed more skills and training would pay off in a better and higher-paying job. Women (at 76 percent) were even more likely than men (at 68 percent) to agree.

Organizations that understand the true value of professional development, culture, innovation and creativity also recognize the value of continuously educating their employee base. These organizations are the ones that will be better positioned to adapt to the rapidly changing demands of today’s work environment. Incorporating professional development within the overall corporate strategy, with so many competing interests and tight budgets, is the challenge.

At a time where key skills are likely to become more scarce — retaining talented employees in their working lives maximizes overall organizational value.

If most workers believe they would benefit from more training, what keeps them from obtaining it?

Brownstein said:

Asked to identify “the biggest barrier to your obtaining more training or education,” those surveyed pointed most to the cost (29 percent), followed closely by lack of time due to family obligations (23 percent), and lack of time because of work obligations (23 percent). Notably, only 11 percent said they wouldn’t obtain more education because they didn’t think it would help them earn more; only 3 percent said they didn’t know where to obtain it.

Training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of all employees, but many employers find the development opportunities expensive.

Many small businesses and nonprofits struggle with finding the time and money to get the training they need to develop their organization and employees. Studer Community Institute training can help meet those needs.

SCI’s next training session, “Performance Coaching with Quint Studer,” is planned for Wednesday, April 6. Details on that session will be coming soon. Click here to sign up for our newsletter to be the first to find out the details on upcoming training.

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