I am a very competitive person, so if you put me in a classroom situation, I am more than likely going to try to beat you on all of the test scores. However, I am also a person that dreads being forced into a corporate continuing education program. Some employers will just assume I am lazy, but the opposite is true. I am a very hard worker. So, what is it?

A recent Gallup State of the American Workplace report, published in June, states that most Americans hate their jobs or are completely indifferent toward them. It also stated that over 20 million workers are actively disengaged at work. This can lead to negativity and is bad for productivity. Nobody wants that. So, how do we get our employees to engage and not dread continued education?

WHY DO THEY HATE IT?

There are generally 3 reasons why employees don’t enjoy continued training:

• It feels like a punishment
• It is purely for compliance
• It is irrelevant or of poor quality

It is not about making the training fun, but about making it matter. Help show your employees that you, as a business owner, are always honing your skills and leading by example. Set the tone and create an environment that fosters continuous improvement and education.

Happy Employees are Well-Trained Employees and Well-Trained Employees are Happy Employees

A great way to foster a staff that embraces CE (Continuing Education) is to incentivize the education. Perhaps you make it a requirement for a promotion? Maybe there is a financial benefit once they have achieved a certain skill level? Reward them for the improvement, rather than punish the lack of enthusiasm. Seeing which of your staff reacts positively towards improving their skills is also a great way to keep your eyes out for future leaders. Engaged employees are the perfect candidates for advancement.

Happy employees will also see an improved self-image. This helps boost their daily confidence and will improve their networking skills. They will have more opportunities for advancement, create job security, and see an overall improved workplace satisfaction.

Benefits to the Employer

The financial benefits of offering your employees a continued education program, far out way the cost of the program. You will not only see a reduction in downtime but also fewer mistakes and less turnover. Turnover is a major cost for all employers, you will experience savings from the loyalty of your employees.  A well-crafted employee will spend less time completing the task at hand, therefore making the company more efficient and more profitable. Find programs that are engaging and rewarding. Be wary of any program that feels like punishment and always reward positivity.