To Train or Not To Train

The CFO questions the CEO of the Organization on the increased cost of training in the financial year.

“What if we train people, spend so much of money on them and then they leave us?”

The CEO looks into the eyes of the CFO and responds, “What if we do not train them and they stay back?”

Whether to train people or not, is not the question. It is how relevant an organization wants to remain in today’s dynamic world needs to be answered.We can never gauge the rate at which technology is changing and affecting the work we do. However, we all know that the only way to survive is by adapting to this ever-changing change.   

We often read or hear that with the advent of automation lot of people will be replaced by robots. Many will lose their jobs because these heartless robots can actually do the job more efficiently and consistently minus the whims and fancies of their living counterparts. So what can we do to keep the machines at bay?

Upgrade or Obsolete

Is it only the need of every organization to keep itself abreast with the latest tools and technologies? No, it is also the responsibility of every individual to learn new skills that are the need of the hour and keep oneself productive.  The ruthless fact would be, either upgrade or become obsolete.

What can organizations do?

Companies spend a lot on research and development to find out what is the next product or service that is going to be in demand. As soon as they identify the offering, they need to analyse whether their existing workforce is capable in terms of skills to deliver those products or services. If the answer is yes that’s fine else they need to quickly get their people trained.

Training Organizations have been in existence since the word training came into existence. These training organizations research on a particular tool or technology, build up their own training capabilities and programs around them and transfer the knowledge through various methods of delivery.

Corporate Training

A Training Organization delivers Corporate Training Programs in various ways:

• Beginners or Entry Level Training Programs (Onsite / Offsite)

Big Corporate get bulks of their newly appointed workforce trained on key technologies through a Training organization at one go. This ensures that the new entrants who join at similar levels receive uniform training.  

• Specialized / Customized / Advanced Training Programs

Training Organizations also cater to specific training requirements that crop up as a part of project requirements. These can be on a specialized tool or technology and can be customized as per the precise need of the assignment.

• Open House Workshops

Training Organizations also conduct open house workshops which can be attended by individuals who seek to carve their own career paths. Open house workshops are usually conducted over weekends so that it does not come in the way of the workdays of these individuals. Open house workshops are the best means to upgrade ones skills in the latest trending tool and technology in the shortest possible duration.

• Institutional Training Programs

Training organizations also offer industry relevant training programs to various institutions at graduation levels. The objective of these training programs is to bridge the gap between the industry and the academia to create project ready resources.

• Behaviourial & Management Development Programs

People require man management and interaction skills to work alongside their superiors, peers and subordinates. So besides tool and technology training programs they also need to undergo Behavioural (Soft Skills) and Management Development Training programs to become effective communicators, managers and leaders. 

In the business world, the principle of survival of the fittest is most evident. Organizations that adapt to the requirements of the markets in the nick of time and upgrade their people are likely to sustain over their competition.

Individuals who want to secure their jobs and who have bigger dreams need to be on their toes all the time. They need to continuously up skill themselves so that they can remain significant in an organizations scheme of things.

It becomes quite obvious that ‘To Train or Not To Train’ is no more a question of choice but it is an imperative decision an individual or an organization needs to make to keep itself in the hunt.