Kim’s Message: Invest More to Get More

In last year’s February’s newsletter I wrote about how Valentine’s Day is a good time to show those who you care about some love, and also a good time to show your employees how much you value and appreciate them. I referenced a great book by authors Eric Mosely and Derek Irvine, called Making Work Human, How Human Centered Companies are Changing the Future of Work and the World.

In the book, Mosely and Irvine explain that successful leaders TALK with employees, THANK them for all that they do and CELEBRATE with them throughout the year. And, they teach leaders that team building happens organically when we make memories with our employees and mark life’s moments together.

Making the Extra Effort

I still believe in that book and in building human-centered companies, but this year I’m taking it one step further—like most improvements in life, you’ve got to put more into it if you want to get more out of it. Whether it’s your personal relationships, your fitness routine (especially your fitness routine!), or your workforce, you’ve got to invest more time, effort, money, energy, and/or tools into those things that are important to you if you want to see better results.

So as leaders, in addition to thanking, talking and celebrating with our employees, how can we take things one step further? Here’s your answer—invest in your employees with Upskilling. While not a new concept, Upskilling is the process of learning new skills or of teaching workers new skills. Some employers put this on the back burner during those COVID years.

Do you offer additional training or resources to help your employees advance in their careers? Upskilling can take many forms, such as taking online courses, attending workshops, conferences, or participating in on-the-job training programs. The vast majority of employees want more education on the job, and they tend to stay longer with employers who invest in them.

In 2022, we created a Leadership Course (L.E.A.D) specifically for upskilling the leaders of today and tomorrow. This year, we are proud to launch another upskilling certification series beginning March 5, 2024 called Elevate Your Expertise: An Upskilling Training Series. Perfect for your entire staff, this class is held virtually, two hours each week for four weeks. Register your team today on some of the most common training topics requested by employers:

• WEEK 1 (Tuesday, March 5): Workplace Communication: Communicating Confidently and Effectively
• WEEK 2 (Tuesday, March 12): Mastering Team Collaboration in the Workplace
• WEEK 3 (Tuesday, March 19): Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving in the Workplace
• WEEK 4 (Tuesday, March 26): Self Leadership: Bringing Your Best Self to Work

Life moves fast and technology changes even more quickly. As technology and the economy evolve rapidly, the skills needed in the job market are also transforming. Upskilling is a win/win and who doesn’t love that?! It will help your company stay competitive and increase job satisfaction for your workforce!

Happy Valentine’s Day!