One of my favorite reads is the Fistful of Talent blog. The blog hosts a number of talented HR folks who focus on moving the profession forward. The perspective of this group is fresh and I highly recommend adding this to your reader.
In a recent article posted on the blog, author Tim Sackett discusses the workforce readiness of college grads (or should I say the lack of). He further provides insight on how the parenting of these graduates fails to prepare them for the skills needed to be successful in the workplace. His list is right on the mark and I encourage you to review it here
So, what do we do if we find one these ill prepared college grads on our work team? For many of us, we continue the training of the workforce just like the well-meaning parents did before us.
- Problem solving: “I don’t know what to do, I am going to have my manager handle this.” Managers if you are always solving the problems, you are doing nothing for the development of your team or for yourself. If you have time to solve all the problems, them keep solving them!
- Collaboration: Do any of you have “chain of command” rules in your organization? Or do you find yourself saying, “Next time, you need to ask me.”
- Agility/Adaptability: Anyone use those checklists with time frames for each and every task that is completed during the day?
- Entrepreneurialism: Do you employees know how their work contributes to the bottom line? Do they know what factors control the department budget? Do they know you have a department budget? Have you ever asked for input in the budget?
- Oral and Written Communication: What are your doing with your poor communicators. Do you just keep them away from clients/customers and find them a job that doesn’t require much. Are you modeling solid communication skills?
- Accessing and Analyzing information: If you are always solving their problems and giving them the answers, how will they develop these skills?
- Curiosity and Imagination: This is probably the most stifled skill of all. Our employees can’t think on their own. “We do things this way because it works or because that is how we have always done it this way.” Have you ever heard the saying, “keep doing what you’ve always done and you’ll get what you always get?”
If you want to succeed in business, your people have to succeed. Develop their skills and keep them engaged. That just makes good business sense. And remember, like parenting, management isn’t for cowards!
As always, your comments are encouraged.
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Sheri Mazurek is a training and human resource professional with over 15 years of management experience, and is skilled in all areas of employee management and human resource functions, with a specialty in learning and development.