Benefits of Training in the work place

Workplace training will give your employees the knowledge and skills they need to function effectively in the work place.Training and development provides both the individual and organisations as a whole with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment. 

Training can be of any kind relevant to the work or responsibilities of the individual, and can be delivered by any appropriate method.
For example, it could include:
• On-the-job learning
• Mentoring schemes
• In-house training
• Individual study
You can also check out our list of training that we offer at Busa HR here

What are the benefits of Training in the work place to Employers?

• Enhances company reputation and profile: All businesses want to have the best employees and so with ongoing training, this will not only mean better staff retention, but the business may also attract better talent from the start, as this gives the business a good image and is a key feature many people look for within their job search.

• Improved employee performance and skill gaps: Most employees have some weaknesses in their workplace skills. A training program allows you to strengthen those skills that each employee needs to improve on is/her performance.Staff that know more can bring more to the table, and your business will reap the rewards.

• Provide an incentive to learn: If training is provided as part of a longer development pathway, employees will have much more incentive to learn, participate in the session and put their new skills into practice.

• Consistency: A structured training and development program ensures that employees have a consistent experience and background knowledge. The consistency is particularly relevant for the company's basic policies and procedures. 

• Keep up with industry changes: Industries are constantly changing and so it is important for a business to develop to avoid being left behind. It’s also important to make sure your business is complying with any industry regulations, which can be achieved through ongoing training, making sure your staff’s skills and knowledge are up-to-date.

• Increased innovation in new strategies and products: Training and continuous development  the workforce can encourage creativity. New ideas can be formed as a direct result of training and development.

• Increase job satisfaction levels: Through continued investment from the business, staff can have a much higher sense of job satisfaction, which can improve their motivation towards their work. This reduces employee turnover and increases productivity, which directly improves the profitability. It also prevents competitors from taking away your best employees by offering training incentives.

As you can see, ongoing training is important not just to employee development, but it also affects the success of your business. 

What are the benefits of employee training in the work place?

• Improve your knowledge and keep you updated on industry changes.

• Gain theoretical and practical skills at the same time

• Gain one or more certificates, depending on the programme and industry you are in.

• Increase your chances for a promotion, better pay or improved job opportunities

• Become highly skilled in your chosen industry.

If your employer is reluctant to take you on as an industry trainee, speak to the relevant industry training organisation (ITO) and ask them for advice on how to approach your employer. Remember, your employer is more likely to invest in your training if they can see a benefit for them. 

How to build and maintain good working relationship

Humans beings are naturally social creatures, we craves friendship and positive interactions, just as we need food and water. It makes complete sense that the better our relationship at work, the happier and productive we are going to be. Good working relationships are really important building and maintain good working relationships will not only make you more engaged and committed to your organization; it can also open doors to key projects, career advancement, and raises. Although we should try to build and maintain good working relationships with everyone, be you are a boss or an employee, relationships are important.

The following are ways that you can build and maintain a good relationship at work

• Building rapport and trust
• Recognising and respecting individual differences
• Using open and honest communication
• Giving and receiving feedback regularly
• Sharing information
• Acknowledging diversity in your team and the wider workplace environment
• Being a positive role model
• Displaying loyalty to your team, colleagues, management and company
• Supporting and defending your team and colleagues
• Recognising the contributions of those you work with
• Using problem solving and conflict management techniques
• Empowering your team members

Whether you are working with someone you see every other day or someone who works on the other side of the world, building relationships is crucial to achieving your objectives and those of your organisation. A successful relationship is built on trust, respect and understanding, and requires ongoing investment from both parties. When difficulties arise in the relationship, they should be addressed openly and in a professional manner to ensure the relationship continues to develop.

6 WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY STAND OUT IN THE WORK PLACE

Your success creates success for others and success requires, at least in part, standing out from the crowd and being known for something. To stand out and get promoted, if that’s your goal you need to do outstanding work that will get you seen by your boss and others in management roles. Look for ways you can go above and beyond the daily requirements. Below are 6 ways that can successfully help you stand out in the work place:

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: Look for areas in your organization where you can put your skills to use and become an expert. Be known as the person who responds quicker, or be the first to raise a helping hand to volunteer for projects or work assignments where you can use your skills to help other employees, while demonstrating your management abilities.

BE THE PRODUCTIVE FIRST: Lots of employee are the first to arrive each day and this make them feel productive. Well arriving early is part of what you are paid to do, but to be the first and productive; you need to pick a worthwhile mission and excel at that mission, take care of unresolved problems from the day before.

CREATE YOUR OWN PET PROJECT: Excelling at an assigned project is expected, so be creative; by finding out innovative ways to meet customer needs or improve customer’s service experience. You can do this by carrying out task or project in your area of expertise without being asked, experimenting with a new process or service with a particular customer (or company goal) in mind.

BECOME A MENTOR: Share your knowledge with a coworker or people growing in the area of your expertise. You can do this by Coordinating several lunch hour sessions where you provide training to others in the organization in your area of expertise. Don’t wait for someone to approach you; pitch in when it appears they might need some help. Don’t expect any return favors, help others because you want to, not because you expect something in return.

BE MORE THAN JUST AN EMPLOYEE: Act like a consultant and find ways to add even more value to the business. Consultants are hired to assess a current situation and create action plans for improvement. They are paid for their expertise and their calm, professional demeanor, especially in times of difficulty.

IT IS OK TO BE HUMAN: Show a little of your personal side Let people know a little about you; a few personal details add color and depth to your professional image, Just make sure your personal interests don't overshadow professional accomplishments.

IS HE/SHE JUST A TALKER? 5 TELLTALE SIGNS

In an average 10 minutes conversation with a stranger, Psychologist and lying specialist Robert Feldman reckons that we will lie 3 times, and if you actually think about it interviewees would actually be crazy not to embellish and exaggerate their strengths during an interview while underplaying their weakness. It is expected in a competitive job market, and when there is a skill shortage across many professional industries, it is often difficult to select interviewees from large numbers of applicants, and it can be difficult to really get to know someone during the short period of an interview, but consider the following telltale signs that would enable you know if a candidate is just a talker;

Body language: Of course, interview nerves may make the most honest candidate appear awkward at first, but this should quickly settle as he or she becomes more comfortable in your presence. There are many signs that an individual is not telling the truth, and many of these are physical. Staying very still, and breathing heavily can indicate dishonesty, as can sudden head movements or foot shuffling. 

Difficulty speaking: When someone is lying, they become stressed and this dries the mouth. Speech becomes more difficult, and you may also notice lip biting or pursing, or covering the mouth with the hands, in an attempt to close off communication about a difficult subject, any substantial changes in tone, from suddenly dropping an octave to slowing or speeding up speech dramatically, implies that the candidate’s answer isn’t coming naturally to them, it may also imply that they have not been entirely honest about some or all details.

Unusual Presentation: If you are interviewing for a candidate for a management role, and the person in front of you is nervous, jittery, dressed in too casual a manner or unsure of the terminology appropriate for this type of role, this could be a warning sign that things are not quite what they seem. Does the person you are interviewing have the level of confidence that you would expect for the position they are being interviewed for? This is a very important question to keep at the back of your mind while conducting an interview.

Difficulty recalling details: When an interviewee is discussing previous projects and offering examples of his or her experience, you can often gauge the truthfulness of the information by asking for details. Ask how many people were involved in a previous project, or question the statistical success or outcome. If an interviewee claims to have led a project but cannot answer detailed questions, alarm bells should ring for you.

Repetition: If someone is trying to convince you and themselves that they have the relevant experience or skill to take a position, they may repeat themselves in an attempt to justify this. Repetition allows the speaker to take the time to gather their thoughts and think through the story they are telling.

Remember, you might be wrong and you don’t want to write a great candidate off, simply because nerves got the better of them. We spend our entire lives trying to surround ourselves with people we trust and distance ourselves from those we don’t. In the real world it comes down to gut feeling. If something doesn’t sound or look right, rely on your gut instinct and question it further, and don’t be satisfied until you have a satisfactory answer. You might still have been lied to of course, but the chances are your interrogation over a potential lie will have flushed out the truth, or at least a version of it.

WORK ETHICS EVERY EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO KNOW

Work ethics is a crucial part of employment and Plays a vital role in career advancement. Every employee ought to respect their employers and expect same in return, this is where good ethical practice plays a role it isn’t just good for business but it is also essential for growth. 

There may be outlined rules and regulations, company’s policies may even be communicated to all employees during orientation but there are certain core work ethics that sets you apart from all other employees. They are as follows;

Commitment: Dedication is important in all relationships, especially in the business world dedication is often viewed as “contagious,” meaning employees who give a strong effort can often inspire their co-workers to do the same. Although possessing the necessary skills is essential, a strong work ethic and positive attitude toward the job can carry you a long way.

Teamwork: A vital aspect of the workplace is working well with others; that includes everyone from peers to supervisors, to customers. In truth often times not all employees will always like each other, however they do need to set aside their personal or even work-related differences to reach a larger goal.

Behavior: All companies have specific acceptable behavior that is expected from their employees, but as a workers who wants to keep his/her job it is wise to clearly understand the accepted work behavior and strictly adhere to them.

Integrity: A key component to workplace ethics and behavior is integrity, or being honest and doing the right thing at all times, employees with integrity also avoid gossip and sneakiness while on the job.

Accountability: A major factor for a successful career and business is taking responsibility for your actions. That means showing up on scheduled workdays, as well as arriving on time and putting in an honest effort while on the job.

Every job have a unique ethical practice, the above listed ethics stands at the core of what every employee should possess to enable them thrive in the business world and working environment. 

Country with the most public holidays

Workers do a little dance at the sound of public holiday announcement, of course who does not like a holiday? we all know public holiday may result in businesses closing or working limited business hours.

In Nigeria the home of  Busa HR  Public Holidays may often be declared in different states or cities due to significant events or memorials, but here are the public holidays that are observed nation wide (the dates may vary each year especially for religious holidays).

New Years day (1 January)

Good Friday (14 April)

Easter Monday (17 April)

Labour day (1 May)

Democracy day (29 May)

Id el Fitri (26, 27 June)  

Id el Kabir   (1, 4 September)

Independence Day  (1 October) 

Id el Maulud (30 November)                

Christmas Day (25 December)    

Boxing Day (26 December)    

This useful infographics shows the number of public holidays in other countries all over the world.

   source: Business Insider

Public holidays, work free day or not the reality is, if everyone should stop going to work the world stops. So happy Holidays to you, working or enjoying the holiday.

What Do HR Consultants really do?

Organisations especially startups companies often feel at ease with a well structured HR team, but often times the team may not comprise of all the necessary know-how and experience needed to manage its human capital.The human resource consultant will handle the heavy lifting while your HR department focuses on your company's operation. Thinking about  hiring a Human Resource Consultant? you may want to know what they do before investing in them, because the benefits often outweigh's the cost. To shed more light on what HR consultants really do for you consider the following;

Human Capital Management: A Human resource consultant can help with human capital by improving your company's talent acquisition process as well as employee management and by implementing employee rewards programs. If you need the best new talents hire and want help keeping them on your team, this method of human resource consulting could be the solution that you're looking for.

Outsourcing: Human resource consulting firm offer numerous outsourcing solutions to companies that need them. From basic payroll outsourcing to more advanced measures like benefits administration, letting human resource consulting firms handle some HR tasks can save you money and boost the performance of your own HR department. And when you outsource to a human resource consulting firm, you will eliminate much of the penalties associated with errors in HR since the human resource consulting firm will be responsible for most of them.

Benefits; Setting up employee benefits is difficult and time consuming. In Large organizations a human resource specialist could be assigned to nothing but benefits administration. Human resource consultants can simplify health, Pension and benefits administration for you. Human resource consultant have direct contact to insurance or benefit providers, helping you narrow down your options, and provide you with a detailed look at the various possibilities that fit your needs and your budget. 

HR Tech Implementation: Setting up human resources technology for your company is a big part of what human resource consulting firm does. The human resource consultant will provide you with the technology, help set it up, and then train your employees on how to use it. If needed, they'll help maintain it as well. 

Business Communications: Hiring a human resource consulting firm to help assess your employees' attitudes is necessary. From studying employee satisfaction, happiness, behaviors, and more, human resource consulting firms can help you find out what your workers are happy with, what they desire, and what they dislike giving you insights on how to best improve your employees working experience.

8 Benefits to Motivate and Retain Employees

Remuneration may no longer suffice for employee motivation and retention. In the competitive business world, Job seekers often use benefits as a better predictor for landing a good job more than salary alone, offering benefits to employees is very important because it shows them that you are invested in their future as well as their overall health. 

Depending on the type of organization and the job role, employee benefits may be quite different, the right benefit package can give you a distinct advantage, improve personal and business outcomes in competitive recruiting and retention.  

Benefits are expensive for company's to always provide for their employees but below are are some benefits that costs the company almost nothing, helps to retain your employees, transforms your workforce to become a happier, healthier and more productive place to work.

8 Benefits to motivate and retain employees

• Dress down days (casual/cultural Friday is advised for employee to better express themselves)

• Shorten office Hours (short office hours especially on Friday is popularly advised) 

• Company day out (picnics, movie night etc. helps to bond team through shared experience)

• Reward staff each month  (gamify the process for employees to meet company's target in other to get the monthly reward)

• Office breakfast (It entice's early resumption)

• Health insurance (this could lead to no more sick days)

• Training (facilitates personal development)

• Retirement planing (Pension secures employees future)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHANGING JOBS

JOB SEEKERS...WINTER IS HERE 

There are so many studies and articles that gives advice on how to secure a position at a new company, but there is little said about how to leave your current job and transition into a new job. Recession is lurking around the corner, it would be challenging to make a huge career move or almost impossible to change jobs because of the fear of the unknown. Studies have shown that a huge number of HR leaders and transitioning executives agreed that leaving one’s job would strain relationship with former Employer and external contact, attract bad press attention, cause fewer attractive career down the line and lower future pay.

Change is an easy word to spell but hard to put into action. Here  some reasons that may drive employees to change job or look for another career includes;

• Lack of recognition of staff in the work place

• Managers lack of people skill

• Inadequate compensation plan 

• Over worked staff

• No room for staff motivation and innovation

GUIDE LINES TO TRANSITION INTO A NEW JOB 

• Make up your mind and stick to your decision to change job (it begins with mental preparation)
• Honour the good name of your former employer when communicating your decision to other contacts (bad press is never good for anyone)
• prepare for worst case scenario (studies shows that it may take 3-6 months to find a new job, so save money to help you transition)
• reflect on your decision and create a strategic plan, learn or train for your new job or role (the road ahead may be rough, tough and may seem lonely, get a mentor or HR firm to help make job hunting easier)
• set future goals in your new job  (planing your future secures your future)

If you are able to do all this you are on your way to become the hand of the queen.

Good luck.