Refresh, Rejuvenate, and Restore Your Mind and Body This Spring
Springtime is here, reminding us it’s time to refresh, rejuvenate, and restore our bodies and minds. In past civilizations, the new year began in spring, which makes a lot of sense. Spring is the season of new life and growth. As we stretch our legs and enjoy the warmer, longer days, it’s time to give ourselves a reset, too. Here are some quick and easy ways to refresh, rejuvenate, and restore your mind and body this spring.
Refresh your mind.
Ann Lamott famously said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” This week, set aside some time to unplug your mind. Disconnect your thinking from the hamster wheel of your “to-do” list.
Take a break, take a walk, take some slow, deep breaths. Let your brain relax. If thoughts and ideas still race through your mind, try a brain dump. Open a blank document or grab a pencil and paper and jot down the things in your head. Let them live on paper or in a saved document rather than in your head.
Rejuvenate your body.
Hold some space in your schedule this week to rejuvenate your body. We depend on our bodies to perform from the moment we open our eyes until the second we slip into sleep at night. What can you do this week to care for your body?
Perhaps this looks like a hike in nature or a good massage, but it can be simpler than that.
Look for ways to step away from your routine. Take an evening walk down a tree-lined street. Prioritize the gym, try a yoga class, or download a mindfulness app. Make yourself a delicious fruit smoothie. Enjoy your coffee outside.
Restore your optimism.
Take a break from scrolling headlines or social media on your phone. Find a park bench or a pretty place to sit for a while. Notice the colors in the leaves or grass and listen to the sounds around you.
Make a list of ten things you’re grateful for in your life. Can’t think of ten? How about five?
Listen to a song or playlist that energizes you.
Create Lasting Happiness
Happiness doesn’t happen by accident. Healthy habits can boost your mood and build resilience against stress. My book, 21 Days to Happiness, teaches 21 healthy habits that will help you restore your joy and create lasting happiness. This book is packed with scientific research as well as interactive resources like journaling prompts.
For a more interactive approach, try our 21 Days to Happiness e-learning program or plan our interactive conference or training session for your team.
3 Ways People Resist Change and What to Do About It
Life is change. Learning is change. Evolving is change. New technology emerges, altering how we perform certain tasks, the cars we drive, and the apps we use on our phones. Avoiding all change is impossible, yet we don’t always embrace a new change immediately. Some people resist change in unexpected ways, usually driven by specific beliefs, values, or concerns. Understanding those reasons can help you lead resisters (including yourself) smoothly into a successful change. Here are 3 ways people resist change and what to do about it.
1. Organizational Resistance.
When you implement a change, the effects of the new policy or procedure should ripple outward through the department or organization. Sometimes, though, the organization’s structure itself causes resistance to changes. This can be caused by poor communication or a lack of understanding of how different company parts contribute to a whole.
The biggest key to overcoming organizational resistance is communication, more specifically listening. This is a great time to practice the kind of communication that seeks first to understand and then be understood. Chances are, there are puzzle pieces you’re missing. Once you know what they are, you will be much closer to identifying the challenges.
2. Critical Resistance.
Someone who openly challenges change is hard to ignore. He doesn’t hide his plans to ignore the change. He speaks up loudly and may encourage others to do the same. It’s important to remember that the person resisting isn’t inherently negative; they’re a team member you want to support in the transition.
Change can evoke a variety of normal emotions. When it leads to a sense of loss of control or feeling unheard or undervalued, a team member may respond by actively criticizing the change.
Take the time to listen to your team member’s concerns. It’s possible to alleviate some of their expressed concerns to rest or reassure them that you have a plan to address the potential complications they are concerned about. Keep your voice calm and avoid dismissive statements like, “Just jump on board; it will be easy,” as this may leave your team member feeling unheard. Instead, try using reflective statements that rephrase their concerns: “What I hear you saying is…” is…”.
3. Quiet Resistance.
While someone actively criticizing a change is impossible not to notice, someone quietly resisting may fly under your radar for a time. Instead of voicing their displeasure or making their intention to disregard a change known, a quiet resister tends to do the opposite, often due to their nature of avoiding confrontation. They may appear to be listening to all new instructions, yet they’ll continue working according to the former goals or procedures, as they are uncertain.
Realizing that someone has been quietly resisting a new policy or procedure can be frustrating. You might wonder why they didn’t express any questions or concerns. Continuing to perform tasks in an old way could lead to problems you hoped to avoid.
Responding to someone who is quiet is important. Though the outcomes may differ, the source of the resistance can be similar to concerns shared by a person resisting actively. The response can be similar as well.
Encourage your team members to voice their concerns with you. Sometimes, those who resist passively do so because they feel uncomfortable with conflict. Therefore, it’s important to keep the conversation friendly. The truth is, you’re both on the same team. Ask gentle, open-ended questions that encourage your team member to share their reasons they are uncomfortable with the change. It may also be helpful to ask questions that allow them to articulate their concerns and propose solutions.
How Do You Thrive and Lead in Times of Change?
Socrates famously said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.”
Whether you’re leading a transformation or adjusting to one, navigating change with confidence is key.
That’s why we offer two targeted training sessions:
- For leaders who need to drive change and bring others on board with clarity and confidence
- For team members who are experiencing change and want tools to adapt, stay motivated, and thrive through uncertainty
The good news? Thriving through change isn’t magic, it’s science. With the right strategies, anyone can build the mindset and habits that make change easier, more empowering, and even exciting.
Check out our training sessions on Thriving and Leading in Times of Change, or contact us today to find out which version is right for your team.
Why Celebrating Company Milestones is Important
Whether you’re cheering for the completion of a contract, recognizing a company anniversary, or taking a victory lap for a team goal, celebrating company milestones is important. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge contributions that make the achievement possible and reinforce the value and strength of teamwork.
Celebrating a milestone means setting aside time to recognize your journey and look at how far you’ve come and who helped make your achievements possible. Here are more reasons to celebrate company milestones.
1. Acknowledge Individual Contributions.
A milestone celebration is the perfect time to recognize individual contributions. Since employee recognition is a significant driver in retention and employee happiness, take the opportunity to celebrate each team member’s unique talents.
Offering a bonus or gift is wonderful, but what’s most impactful is acknowledging specific, meaningful contributions from individuals on your team. How did each member contribute to the team’s success? This is the time to let the whole world know about it.
2. Generate Team Memories and Connections.
Another key factor in employee retention is positive company culture. Taking time out of the workday to acknowledge the success of the team creates positive memories and connections between team members. It also reminds your team that they are greater than the sum of their parts. Additionally, a celebration offers an opportunity for an individual to learn more about how others’ work contributes to the project. It’s a great way for people to get to know one another better, too.
3. Reinforce the Team’s Mission.
Remembering your “why” is critically important when stress mounts, and deadlines loom, but it’s also important to hold onto the team’s mission and the team members’ individual roles in it when it comes time to lift a glass (or a fork) to celebrate. Reminding the team why what they do matters instills a sense of pride in their everyday work.
4. Offer an Emotional Reset.
A celebration can also offer a moment to reset. It can provide closure to a project or participation in a particular group. This gives us permission to clear our slate and move forward with the feeling that we’re starting fresh. This can energize the team so they go into the next project focused and engaged.
Help KCC Celebrate Our 13th Anniversary!
Since 2012, our team at KCC has worked to help clients achieve goals, strengthen their leadership skills, and increase employee happiness. We consider every client’s success a victory, and we’re honored for the continued opportunity to participate in your growth.
Has KCC made a difference for you? Share your story! Maybe one of our blog posts reached you at just the right moment. Perhaps my book on happiness helped you find joy in a new way. One of our workshops or coaches may have brought your goals within reach. How have we helped you? Celebrate with us by sharing your story! Leave your comments below, and please join us for our virtual party on March 13th.
5 Reasons You Should Hire a Business Coach
Deciding to get a coach can be exciting yet you can have doubts. An effective coach can make a huge difference in your success, but it’s also an investment of time and money. How do you know whether the investment to hire a business coach is right for you?
Hiring a coach is like having a personal cheerleader with the expertise needed to help you achieve your work objectives. Are you focusing on the right priorities and are they aligned with your goals? What are your key talents? What needs tweaking? A coach can help you answer these questions and craft a career or development plan that helps you reach your objectives. Here are 5 reasons you should hire a coach.
1. Get an Outside Perspective.
When you get a coach, you bring in someone with knowledge and expertise who can help you navigate your unique work challenges. They bring a fresh perspective to the situation and can help you discover options or solutions that you may have overlooked. We all have blind spots and opportunities. A coach is trained to help you recognize yours.
2. Help You Use Your Talents.
Many people assume that a coach’s primary role is to highlight and fix their weaknesses. However, the most effective coaching approach focuses on amplifying your natural talents and strengths, allowing you to leverage them even more. Instead of fixating on weaknesses, a great coach helps you manage them in a way that they don’t become significant obstacles. This shift in perspective not only enhances performance but also fosters greater confidence and personal growth.
3. Focus on Key Issues.
It’s undeniable that unexpected challenges will frequently pop up at work. It’s easy to lose focus on the big picture when you spend your days putting out the little fires that crop up around you. A coach will help you see through the smoke and keep your focus on the tasks and issues that matter most.
4. Teach You Better Habits.
What are you doing that holds you back? A great coach will analyze your habits, trends, and typical reactions to situations, helping you make small behavioral adjustments for better outcomes. They’ll point out ways you may limit yourself without even realizing it and offer solutions that support your growth and development success.
5. Offer Accountability.
We rarely receive direct feedback at work for various reasons. A coach is distanced from your daily operations and well-positioned to offer nudges of accountability that can make the difference between staying stuck and making progress.
More Reasons to Hire a Business Coach
Success doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen alone. It takes a supportive, knowledgeable community to achieve results, and a coach is a key member of that supportive team. When you hire a coach, you’re hiring someone whose entire purpose is to help you identify and clear the roadblocks between you and your goals.
At KCC, we offer different coaching packages to meet a wide range of needs, from focused targeting coaching to career development and more. Our experienced business coaches are ready to help you navigate the challenges you face in your job. Book an exploratory call with Patrizia today to learn how we can help you make the “2.0 version” of yourself.
Happy New Year from Our Team at KCC!
We hope this new year brings incredible success in both your work and personal lives. It’s a joy every time we help our clients achieve their goals, and we can’t wait to see what wonderful journeys we’ll be part of this year.
5 Steps to Set Goals You Can Achieve This Year
Whether or not you’re a fan of setting New Year’s resolutions, the beginning of the year is a perfect time to revisit your goals and evaluate your direction and your progress. Are you happy in your current role at work? Do you have health issues you’ve been meaning to address but keep putting off?
Setting goals sometimes feels daunting, especially if the goal involves significant changes. Thankfully, you can take specific steps to make achieving those goals more manageable and more likely. Here are 5 ways to set goals you can accomplish this year.
1. Be Specific and Intentional.
Making vague plans for positive life changes is easy, but those loose ideas can leave us without momentum. Specifics and a meaningful outcome provide a motivating finish line. Getting started is much easier when you connect your goals to your “WHY” and know exactly how far you need to go. It also makes the goal more real and more personal. Here are some examples.
Vague: Lose weight.
Specific: Lose ten pounds by June first to get my health back on track.
Vague: Get promoted.
Specific: Advance to a level three engineer by September to feel more fulfilled at work.
2. Break It Down and Habit Stack.
One mistake we sometimes make when goal-setting is not breaking a goal down into small steps. These bite-sized steps make even the most challenging goals more manageable. Instead of holding the whole project in your head, you can focus on one step at a time. I use a technique called habit stacking. For example, for my goal of getting super fit in 2025, one action step I implemented was to do counter push-ups and tricep dips every morning while my coffee brews. Much easier, right?
3. Write It Down and Keep It Visible and Trackable.
Have you heard the expression, “out of sight, out of mind”? Don’t let your goals fall into that trap. Keep them in sight. Post a reminder on your bathroom mirror. Write it on your calendar. Set a reminder to pop up on your phone when you are most likely to need it. I recently started using an app called Structured to organize and track my daily and weekly action steps, and I love it!
In a study by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University in California, she found that participants were 42% more likely to achieve goals committed to writing.
4. Keep It Positive.
When it comes to achieving goals, your self-talk is essential. It can feel overwhelming or discouraging if you miss a milestone, experience a slip-up, or encounter a setback.
However, multiple studies have shown that guilt isn’t a very effective motivator, even for ourselves. Positivity is much more effective at getting us back on track, and achieving objectives is a lot easier when we’re energized.
Think about how you frame your goals. For example, if your goal is cleaning out your closet, think about how it will feel to open it and see it neat and organized and only containing items useful to you. It feels great, right?
If you set aside some time to start decluttering your closet and have to reschedule due to an urgent matter, don’t be discouraged. Celebrate the steps you’ve already taken on the project, even if the only step you’ve completed is rescheduling another “date with your closet” in your calendar.
5. Create Accountability: Say it Out Loud.
It doesn’t only take a village to raise a child. No matter our ages, we all function better when we have a supportive community. Similarly, we’re more likely to achieve our goals when we have accountability from people we care about and trust.
Accountability takes lots of different forms. Perhaps you have a friend or mentor who would make an excellent accountability partner. Perfect! You can also join a class targeted at people with similar goals. For example, you might choose an exercise or healthy cooking class to help connect you with people with similar health and lifestyle goals. A business course or workshop can help you connect with people who share career advancement goals. Remember to use the “say it out loud” method. By communicating your goals and action plans to others, you increase your chances of following through, as it fosters accountability.
Next Steps
Setting goals and creating a map from here to the finish line of success can seem useless or boring for some of us. Sometimes, we know what we want but need tools and support to find the most effective path forward. Knowing you are open to getting support is a great place to begin and a perfect place to bring in one of our certified coaches. Book an exploration call to discover how we can help you achieve your goals this year. Happy New Year!
You can learn more about crafting a sustainable work-life balance in my book, 21 Days to Happiness. Each day of the 21-day journey identifies an area of our lives that contributes to our overall happiness and teaches what we can do to start living happier lives today.
The Magical Link Between Employee Recognition and Happiness
One amazing fact consistently found in workplace productivity and employee retention data is the link between employee recognition and happiness. Surveys and statistics tell the same story over and over again: employees are happier, more productive, and remain with a company for longer when they receive regular recognition for their work.
Recognition doesn’t have to cost a fortune—it can be as simple as a heartfelt thank-you or a small gesture of appreciation. Studies consistently show that employees who feel recognized are not only happier but also more engaged, productive, and likely to stay with their company. In fact, fostering a culture of appreciation has a ripple effect, boosting team morale and creating an environment where everyone thrives.
A little recognition goes a long way in building both happiness and success! Here are 3 ways to demonstrate recognition and create a culture of appreciation.
1. Practice Regular Recognition
Recognizing people doesn’t need to be elaborate to make a difference—it’s the thought that counts. A heartfelt compliment, a quick email, or a shout-out during a meeting can work wonders in boosting morale. Whether it’s a public acknowledgment or a private note of appreciation, what matters is making it a consistent part of your culture.
Make recognition a habit! I often reference the book “The One Minute Manager,” which advises us to “catch them doing something right.” Encourage your team to participate by sharing praise for their colleagues during meetings or group discussions. Over time, this practice will become second nature and foster a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired to excel.
2. Build Social Connections
Building social connections creates a sense of community within the company. This can be as simple as having everyone sign a card for each employee’s birthday or as fancy as planning a company holiday party or milestone celebration.
The goal is to create personal connections between team members and nurture relationships. Team members may realize they have the same favorite hobby or kids near the same age. That’s wonderful! Those connections help people work more comfortably together and generate a stronger camaraderie.
3. Foster a Positive Company Culture
Company culture has a significant impact on employee happiness and retention. Creating a positive, healthy company culture reduces workplace stress and improves productivity and overall job satisfaction. Employees are more likely to continue working in a company with a positive company culture, which helps an organization provide continued high-quality service and maintain a good reputation.
While birthday cards and catered lunches can boost employees’ moods, one of the most critical factors in your company culture is the attitude you model. When leaders prioritize recognition and positivity, they set the tone for a thriving, motivated, and happy workforce.
We’re Here to Help You
Our goal is to provide you with practical conferences, training and expertise that will maximize your organization’s effectiveness and your team’s well-being and happiness. At KCC, we offer 30 sessions that will provide you with techniques tailored to your team’s specific challenges. We also offer individual and team coaching sessions with certified coaches who can help you make this the year you reach the next milestone in your goals. Contact us today to get in touch and find out how we can create customized solutions for you.
5 Ways to Share Gratitude This Holiday Season
Did you know that some studies have shown that the positive effects of sharing gratitude can make you feel happier for months afterward? In his 2005 study, Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, the father of positive psychology that I present in my book: 21 Days to Happiness, had participants hand-deliver letters to people thanking them for doing something kind. The people who did this felt an immediate increase in happiness, and the effects lasted for months after the delivery of the letter. Gratitude can be a powerful force that brings happiness to ourselves and others. Here are 5 ways to share gratitude and give lift your own happiness level.
1. Hand-deliver a Note Thanking Someone for Kindness
Just like the participants in Dr. Seligman’s study, you can write and hand-deliver a note, card or letter to someone you’ve never thanked for their kindness. It only takes a few moments to write a short note acknowledging someone for their thoughtfulness. You can make the note as simple or elaborate as you would like. The important thing is to express thanks and deliver the message to the person you’d like to show your appreciation for. Of course, if hand delivery is not practical, a simple text, email or post will do the job!
2. Start a Gratitude Journal
In one study on gratitude, participants wrote down five things they felt grateful for each week. They reported a greater sense of optimism and fewer instances of headaches, colds, and skin issues.
Making note of your blessings or things you’re grateful for in a journal also allows you to flip back through the past entries and reflect on what you’ve listed. You may want to start a yearly ritual of reviewing everything you listed in the journal for the past year. This is a great activity to do with a partner, friends, and family as well. This habit is so impactful that I chose to write a whole chapter on it proposing a variety of suggestions to make it a habit.
3. Do Something Kind for Someone Else
An act of kindness can be as simple as holding the door for a stranger or picking up coffee for a coworker or friend. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, though those can make someone feel special, too. The beautiful thing about doing something kind for others is that it boosts our happiness no matter how large or small the favor is.
4. Be Present
As we head into the holiday season, be careful not to let the to-do lists and holiday plans crowd out the quiet spaces in your mind. Make it a point to stay in the moment as you go about your day, especially as you have conversations with others. If you notice your mind wandering, it’s okay. No shame! Simply draw your attention back to the moment.
5. Let Gratitude Guide You This Season
As you make holiday plans, think about the things you are most grateful for. Is there a person you’re thankful to have in your life? Are there activities you’re grateful to have the chance to experience? Find ways to make those people or those activities a part of your holiday season. This might mean planning a “Friendsgiving” meal with the ones you love or making the time to have a coffee chat. Having multiple special activities or events to look forward to helps center gratitude and joy in your holiday season.
Learn More About Gratitude and Happiness
One of the things I’m grateful for this year is that my book, 21 Days to Happiness, will be available in French AND I am launching the updated, 2nd edition of the English book just in time for the holidays. The new translated edition releases on November 27, 2024. Each day of the 21-day journey identifies an area of our lives that contributes to our overall happiness and teaches what we can do to start living happier lives today. Day 1 focuses specifically on gratitude practices, and the impact gratitude has on our lives.
Ask us about our KCC interactive conference on Happiness at Work. We can present this practical, science-based program to your company for all employees or for a specific team.
5 Ways to Boost Engagement at Work
One element the long-term success of any organization depends upon is employee engagement. A team invested in the work they do has a contagious energy that helps an organization build momentum. Boosting engagement also helps to boost employee satisfaction and retention, creating an upward spiral.
Investing in your individual team members leads to benefits for the organization, which adds to the success and happiness of the team members, which adds to the organization’s success, and so on. Here are 5 ways to boost employee engagement on your team.
1. Recognize and Invest.
Take a genuine, personal interest in the members of your team. What are their individual talents and goals? What do they do well? Recognize the value they bring to the team individually and to the group. When someone notices the hard work we’re doing, it helps to energize us to continue performing… tell them when you notice, and I will quote the famous book, The One Minute Manager, “catch them doing something right” on purpose!
Additionally, invest in getting to know each member of the group. What excites them? How do they spend their free time? Cultivate respect for each person by getting to know them a little bit.
2. Solicit Feedback.
What does the team think is going well? What obstacles make their work more challenging? Give your employees a chance to express concerns or issues and hear them out. Resist the urge to explain or defend.
What action can you take to address the group’s concerns? If something can’t be addressed in the way the team desires, be frank about that, too. Openness cultivates trust, another essential component of boosting employee engagement.
3. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate!
Meet regularly to discuss what’s new, provide status updates, share success stories and talk about issues as they arise. This helps ensure that everyone stays focused on the same priorities, is informed of new information, and has an opportunity to ask questions or point out any challenges that have arisen.
Communicate changes clearly and make sure your team gets the answers to the questions they have, even if it means you have to research answers first and respond later. Make sure you follow through with promises to provide further information. Failure to do so can make the team feel like their concerns are unimportant or that you’re unwilling to address concerns. Both can sap motivation.
4. Support Initiative.
As the team builds working relationships with one another, you may notice certain members emerging as natural leaders. Make space for people to take on additional responsibilities or lead initiatives that make sense. This recognition and response to new ideas can foster a creative and positive work environment.
This allows the group to run more effectively, boosting not just engagement but also outcomes.
5. Provide Professional Development Opportunities.
Professional development is critical for any organization to stay ahead of shifting customer expectations and advancing technologies and solutions. Provide opportunities for your team members to earn new skills and add those assets to your team. It also communicates an investment in your team members that energizes valued workers. It’s a win-win.
Get All Our Best Tips to Boost Employee Engagement and Motivation
If these 5 ways to boost employee engagement inspire you to make changes, just wait until you see what we offer in our Inspirational Leadership and Engagement workshop.
Get up-to-date, scientifically backed information on how to unlock potential and mobilize your team to bring your goals within reach. People expect employers to invest in their development, and the truth is that those investments drive benefits for the company as well. Contact us today to learn more.
5 Critical Keys to Collaboration
Now more than ever, succeeding at work involves teamwork. The great news is that the right team generates results that far exceed what its individual members could achieve. An ineffective team, however, can slow down the group’s processes and innovation. Full team engagement comes from knowing their “why” and using their unique talents to contribute to the common goal.
That’s why these 5 critical keys to collaboration are so important. These pillars of successful teamwork will help boost employees’ investment in the group and their confidence in their own work. They promote innovation and creative solutions that simplify workflow and improve performance. Read on to learn how these 5 keys to collaboration contribute to effective teams.
1. Time Management.
Collaboration doesn’t always require a lot of face time. Once the team establishes clear goals and tasks, each member needs focused time to work on their tasks. Make sure that the ratio of time spent as a group to time spent individually working best suits the needs of the group and doesn’t distract from getting the work accomplished. Can you guess the most common complaint that we hear when we give our time-management session? Too many meetings!
2. Communication.
Communication is a make-or-break component of any team project or collaboration. To boost successful communication, give some thought to how the team will communicate. How will members share issues or ask questions? Is this best done via chat? Emails? Holding questions until a set meeting time each day or week? Establish the preferred communication methods for each type of situation and evaluate whether this works for everyone after a few weeks.
3. Innovation.
In the best collaborative teams, the sum far exceeds the abilities of the parts. How does this happen? One key to successful collaboration is to encourage innovation through brainstorming, engaging new ideas, and supporting out-of-the-box thinking. Even ideas that are not themselves feasible solutions can be useful because they tend to trigger other, potentially more useful ideas. Ensure that the group remains a safe place to brainstorm new ideas.
4. Celebrate Team Successes.
As the team develops new ideas, builds useful tools, and adopts new processes, find ways to celebrate each of these successes. Call out team members whose ideas have solved problems or moved a project forward. Acknowledge those who went above and beyond to ensure that deadlines were met. Thank team members whose diligent work keeps the project on track. Celebrating these successes reminds the team of their power and effectiveness as a group and reminds each team member of their value to the group.
5. Collect Feedback.
Ask your team for feedback on what practices best support their collaborative efforts and what can be improved. Having a say in how the team operates will boost its efficiency by allowing adjustments that directly aid its members, but it also generates deeper investment in the team.
Build Your Own High-performing Team
Join us for a training session that will show you how to build your own high-performing team using these keys to collaboration. We’ll share with you how to leverage the communication styles and personality types of your team members to optimize your team’s synergy. Contact us today to learn more about our training and team-building sessions using the DISC personality questionnaire.
3 Big Benefits of Ongoing Training
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving job market, ongoing training isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. As industries transform and technology advances, the once cutting-edge skills can quickly become obsolete. Investing in regular professional development can unlock new opportunities, boost performance, and ensure that both individuals and businesses remain competitive in a rapidly changing world.
As kids head back to school, take a moment to think about how returning to the classroom (literally or figuratively) would benefit you and your team. Ongoing training provides much more than critical opportunities for career advancement. It offers a path to increasing your team’s productivity and boosting employee retention. Continued development for your employees also enhances the organization’s reputation.
Let’s take a closer look at how this works.
1. Increased Productivity.
Learning new skills allows your team to streamline workflow using new tools. From improving technology to optimizing processes to increasing customer satisfaction and retention, training offers a multitude of benefits to an organization.
Training also improves accuracy, and efficiency and boosts confidence. There’s no replacement for the satisfaction that comes from doing a job well.
2. Improved Employee Retention.
Not only does continued training help your team members do their jobs more efficiently, but it also improves engagement. Training is an investment. It sends a signal to employees that you value them and want them to succeed in their careers. In many cases, it also provides opportunities for advancement or job enrichment within the organization.
Though continued training takes time away from the daily tasks employees must manage, improving employee retention means you spend more time boosting your existing team’s productivity and less time bringing brand-new employees up to speed on performing basic tasks.
3. Enhanced Company Reputation.
Another big benefit of ongoing training is that it enhances your company’s reputation. In this competitive economy, finding something that sets your organization apart from others can be the difference between success and failure. Continued education is a great way to differentiate your team from others in the field, as it shows dedication to excellence and investment in a positive customer experience.
A better reputation also benefits the organization in the job market. When it comes time to add a new team member to the group, having a great reputation in your industry will help attract high-quality candidates who recognize the organization’s value for its employees.
Get Back to School
Now is the perfect time to invest in continuing education for you and your team. Start a wish list of training topics your team would benefit from and commit to a budget for continued training. Need help getting your list started? Check out our 30 interactive sessions, based on scientifically proven methods and led by industry experts.
Have questions about our topics? Contact us today for further information on how we can help you and your team work smarter, not harder.