The first quarter of 2009 presents a slower economy, which gives us tremendous opportunity to sharpen our tools for success.  We can use this breathing space in the economy to strengthen our foundation of skills and knowledge to survive and thrive in these times.  Want to make a mint in this new economy?  Here’s how:

Mentor – Find and work with a great mentor; someone who has been through tough times before, who can save you from making costly mistakes, and who is where you want to be.

Inspiration – Hang out with positive, motivating people who inspire you. Read stories of magnificent accomplishment and those who have beat the odds, not news headlines of doom and gloom.  Listen to motivational speakers, get yourself mentally prepared to be amazing, then take action.

Network – Go out and network more.  Make more people aware of how you can benefit them with your services and products.  Ask for referrals, follow up with the referrals, and take networking to the point where people are becoming prospects, and ultimately customers.

Training – Continue your training and development.  We must be constantly learning.  Continue to learn about customer service, how to deal with people, relationship strategies, time management, and motivation.  If we regularly learn and implement one new idea to become better at what we do; teach our people to become better employees; use this time to digest what we have learned; and implement the strategies required for success, we will be unstoppable and well-polished for the turn of a busier economy. A busier economy means more time spent in the transacting of business, leaving less time for the upgrading of skills.

Find a Mentor (or be one), seek Inspiration by surrounding yourself with positive and successful people, Network to build your business opportunities and Train, Train, Train.

Best wishes for earning your MINT,

Penny

According to the Government of Canada’s publication, Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning For Canadians, “Countries that succeed in the 21st century will be those with citizens who are creative, adaptable and skilled. The so-called ‘new economy’ is demanding new things from us. The need for ingenuity, creativity and hard work has not changed. How we do our work has. Today’s workplace requires higher levels of education and skills. The equipment we use to do our jobs has also changed. Teachers, police officers, forestry workers and company presidents alike use increasingly sophisticated information technology to do their work”.  It is important for companies to continuously assess their commitment to training. Companies should evaluate their training commitment. Evidence suggests that training provided by corporations can make a difference in employee performance and ultimately corporate profitability.   

According to an article by Chris Taylor in T+D Magazine, “Recession Survivors: Training to the Rescue,” (October 2003), a knowledgeable workforce may ensure a company’s survival. The article profiles four companies that survived the economic impact of September 11, 2001, and a business climate marked by recession and corporate scandals. These companies—Southwest Airlines, Viacom, Dell, and Guardsmark—all consider employee training an investment in company growth and stability. Rather than cutting back their training budgets during hard times, these companies chose to invest in the development of new skills and knowledge within their workforce. In doing so, these companies showed a commitment to their workers and gave them the educational background necessary to increase productivity and effectiveness in their respective markets. The workers, in turn, supported these companies and ensured their survival through a difficult chapter of American business history. 

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/852/Trends-in-Training-Development.html

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