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Why Invest Time in Leadership Training in 2018? by Jackie Edwards

Those who value visionary leadership know that far from being a stagnant concept, it involves essential and constant change. Learning about leadership is vital even for the most seasoned executives and their staff. Whether you run your own business or you have major decision making power, training is about much more than obtaining the results you want from your team. It is also one of the best ways you can invest in yourself, both as a manager and as a human being, and obtain the most even from newer staff members.

 

Why is Continuous Learning for Staff Important?

With research indicating that millennials are keen on working in jobs that offer meaning rather than material success, many executives are rushing to find ways to increase employee fulfilment through continuous learning, flexibility, and incentives. If so, they are certainly taking the right approach. By regularly upgrading skills and increasing their knowledge base, employees are more able to successfully adapt to changing demands in the office and the industry they work in. Just a few of the benefits of creating an organizational learning culture include increased productivity and profit, decreased turnover, improved reward systems, and higher employee motivation.

 

Why Should Leaders Continue to Hone their Skills?

As noted by Forbes, the very best leaders are also ‘full-time learners’. By investing in continued growth, continuously challenging established assumptions, and being ‘on the ball’ regarding various issues faced by their respective industries, leaders can guide their team in the right direction.

Leadership enforces others’ vision of you as a forward looking, inspired leader who takes into account important issues such as flexibility, work-life balance, and feedback. By learning the skills required to move teams towards a common goal, you are also raising your own value as a manager/director/company owner.

You never know when you might be headhunted or decide to close your own business to take up employment at a top company. The extent to which you are up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in your industry will be evident in the first few minutes of your interview.

 

Why Invest Time and Resources in Leadership Training?

Many directors and company owners fear that investing in leadership courses for their staff could be pointless, considering the high job hopping rate of millennials (who spend only 18-24 months, on average, at a company before moving on).

As mentioned above, training results in a lower turnover. However, even if employees do move on, there is always a chance they will return after a stint at another company. Moreover, leadership training is fast becoming an important consideration for top talent, so building a reputation for continuous learning at your company is now a necessity rather than a luxury. Training is ultimately about building a healthier industry (focusing on long-term gains and raising general standards), rather than reaping immediate gains.

Leadership training is of us to both current and potential leaders. Rather than fear the effect of frequent job hopping, leaders should see continuous learning as a vital part of attracting and retaining top talent. They should invest in themselves, increasing their knowledge base and serving as an example of the value of vision and commitment to improvement.

 

Jackie Edwards

January 9th, 2018