I work in the data center industry, which has precious little margin for error. Downtime isn't an option — as the digital backbone of the economy, data centers must operate 24/7. On top of that, even a small mistake could be a $150 million snafu.
Because the stakes are so high, we spend a lot of time and money training and developing the people who keep our facilities — and our company — running. Add in the talent shortage in our fast-growing industry, and we can't afford not to invest in our employees and managers.
While not every industry faces this level of pressure, any company can benefit from embracing a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement. That starts with talent development, which helps the business run smoothly and makes it more likely that people will stick around. A program that gets those results is one that is well-spent. Yet, all too often, businesses drop the ball.
In the U.S. alone, companies pour more than $100 billion a year into training people. However, just 25% of respondents to one survey said their corporate training programs moved the needle on business performance. At the same time, only four out of 10 workers think their employer is helping them improve their current skills or gain new ones.
Clearly, when it comes to training and developing people, companies themselves have room for improvement. Here are a few places to start.
Related: How to Improve Your Leadership Style With Cohort-Based Leadership Training
When it comes to upskiling talent, starting with a strong foundation is a huge leg up. That means striving to bring on the right people for the job and those eager to acquire the skills they need. In fact, willingness to learn is one of the........