World on Pause? Press Play on Staff Development
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Originally Posted On: https://www.moxieinstitute.com/staff-development-training/
Want to know one of the most powerful factors that contribute to a business’ success?
Consistency.
And not just consistency in your product or service. But throughout the entire organization from the CEO to the receptionist.
A report by Demand Metric found that 90% of business leaders said consistency was important but only 10% felt they were doing it—it’s a golden opportunity for your business to stand out.
Take Apple as an example. They had revolutionary products. But imagine if Steve Jobs spoke like an awkward teenager and the marketing copied the corporate-feel of Microsoft. Or if the Apple stores were small and dark with staff who didn’t know how to troubleshoot.
The company would never have commanded the brand-loyalty that catapulted them to global success.
This is why staff development is critical—especially now as the world shifts to virtual communication.
The Coronavirus has forced businesses to go online—a trend that was already accelerating every year. Those who were prepared are already reaping the rewards while other companies scramble to catch up.
If you want to be a market leader in the coming years, knowing how to lead impactful virtual meetings and speak on camera with confidence are now some of the most important skills your team should focus on developing.
Below, we outline the advantages of virtual training and how it can future-proof your business in the months and years ahead.
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With Staff Development Training, Your Employees Can Amplify Your Brand
“What most employers want are written communication, oral communication, team building, and leadership skills.” – Jeff Weiner, CEO, LinkedIn
A 2018 study by LinkedIn listed oral communication as the #1 skills shortage in the San Francisco Bay Area—a sentiment echoed nationwide.
Having employees who know how to effectively communicate improves your business both internally and externally.
Whether it’s the sales team calling prospective clients or the HR department at a networking event, every interaction is an opportunity. With professional development training, your team will become impressive ambassadors for your company.
This is where workshops that focus on communication skills can help unite your team under a cohesive brand voice. They can always be tailored specifically for the goals and mission of your company ensuring you instill the culture and message you want to promote.
That way, you can rest assured that no matter who interacts with your business, they are receiving the same consistent message.
Virtual Training Is Easier And Cheaper For Your Business
No matter how difficult a situation becomes, there is always a silver lining.
While there are benefits to in-person training, you have to deal with issues such as travel cost and transportation, scheduling conflicts, and limited choices. Virtual professional development doesn’t have any of these issues.
Consider these advantages:
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Costs Drop Dramatically
Travel costs are eliminated. You don’t need to book a venue or hotel rooms. Catering (unfortunately) won’t be provided. When you take these out, you only have to pay for the course itself. -
It’s Easy To Find A Date That Works
You’re no longer restricted to the availability of places within your budget and the times people can travel. Whether logging in from home or the office, joining the training is more convenient ensuring more employees can benefit from it. -
You Have More Choice
Before, you may have been limited to staff development training in your local area or a certain time of the year. With virtual courses, you have a huge selection available allowing you to find the one that is right for you.
It’s Also A Great Way To Improve Staff Retention
Research published in the International Journal of Human Resource Management found that companies who invested in training and development enjoyed higher employee retention.
They also found that this was especially important “during periods of economic instability and organizational change”.
It’s important to acknowledge that overall people don’t want to leave their job.
Doing so is very stressful and has even been attributed to feeling like a break-up or a period of mourning. But if your employees don’t feel like they are getting the professional development they need to grow in their careers they’ll start to look elsewhere.
Invest in them.
Help them become experts and leaders in your field so that your business becomes seen as an authority in the marketplace. As their personal reputation grows, more people will want to work for you making it easier to attract highly skilled people.
Right now, many people are worried about the future. Virtual training is a great option for them to improve their skill sets and feel more secure.
If your budget can only cover staff development for a set number of people, you can always identify those who want to proactively better themselves. Find valuable online courses and send out an email asking if anyone is interested.
Even if only a few get to take part, it sends a signal to everyone in the company that you are making an effort to help them improve.
Staff Development Builds Customer Trust And Loyalty
When your organization is speaking the same language and delivering an authentic, consistent message, your customers naturally develop even more trust in your brand.
And why do your best clients choose to work with you?
Because they trust you.
When the message is the same from the mouth of the first salesperson to the executive team it creates a feeling of stability and trust. And trust inspires loyalty.
People dislike change in general. So when your clients can call and consistently speak with their favorite representative, they are far more likely to continue to work with you over a competitor they don’t know.
Powerful Speakers Are Remembered
The advantage of being proactive is that when opportunities open up for people in your company to speak at virtual events or in-person, they’ll be ready.
At Moxie Institute, we encourage presentation teams to weave their speeches together to unify the brand message and deliver content that has an even more memorable impact.
Consider how great presentations go viral, permeating offices, households, social media, and traditional media. In today’s economic environment, elevating the impact of your company’s presentations is critical.
Investing your team training and development budget into communication skills can help increase revenue streams, present new opportunities, and close high-stakes sales.
And if you’ve nurtured those with particular talent, it can even lead to the gold standard in virality—the TED talk.
Communication Skills Are The Win-Win of Staff Development
Leaders and employees at every level are expected to translate jargon and case studies into impactful stories.
They need to communicate effectively in every interaction and deliver the kind of extraordinary presentations that crush your competition and dominate the market.
With communication training, you increase employee retention, unify your message, amplify trust and loyalty for your brand, and step out as a leader in your industry.
This results in far-reaching rewards for your brand, your clients, and most importantly, everyone in your company.
Want the best for your team?
Schedule a 30-minute complimentary breakthrough call. We’re here to help.
Fia and Gregg Fasbinder
CEO and President
www.MoxieInstitute.com
[email protected]
(858) 771-6827