60 SECONDS ON BUSINESS
Proper training is key to productivity

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

What happens when a new person or trainee comes on the job? Is it sink or swim, or are you really prepared to help them develop?

The essence of great coaching and managing is getting others to work effectively and efficiently. Review how you deal with each of the following questions, and you'll get a better grasp on what you have to do to get the most out of your people day after day.

1. Have you gone over the job description with the trainee? A good way to approach this is by listing the top three to five priorities with them, and making sure that a majority of the time, they are focused on what is most important.

2. Are you sure the new employee understands the goals and objectives of the department and her contribution to accomplishing these goals? If not, the question arises, "Why am I doing this?" "Shut up and keep digging" is not the best response (especially when you're at the bottom) and neither is "We've always done it that way; you're lucky to have a job."

3. Who specifically is responsible for training the person on each of the priorities? Regardless how talented they are, the assignment of specific responsibilities for development will help them develop even faster. The absence of a designated trainer or mentor will always slow down development.

4. Does the new employee grasp the critical relationships with the other departments? It's good to understand where you fit in. Every department is inter-related and success in one is usually dependent on work going on somewhere else.

Reach Dr. Drake Beil at drake@60secondsonbusiness.