The value of education
With the recent release of A-Level and GCSE results, the CBI are stressing the importance of student getting at least five C and above results to stand a chance of successful employment.
I was fortunate enough to continue my education all the way through to University and came out with a degree on the back of it. I enjoyed learning and the structure it provided helped me grow and keep the momentum to expand my knowledge going.
So then I got out into the ‘real world’ and realised that in small business you never stop learning as long as you go looking for it. The community has taught me a lot in recent months and SMB Nation in September will mark a year of what has been a real eye-opener for me.
Those who know me are aware that I tend to remember weird facts. One little gem is that eggs absorb odour (it’s true!) so that means don’t leave them in a fridge if it’s full of fish! Now I don’t just give you this little nugget of information on a whim! What I wanted to convey to you through the power of imagery is that you and the people who work for you are like eggs too. Ensuring that you are all learning and developing your knowledge is key to building your business. So like eggs, you make sure they absorb everything that’s good and not bad and smelly.
Customers want to deal with businesses that know their stuff and will confidently take them forward with you as you move forward - who wants to go backwards? If you and your staff stagnate in information that you learnt last year and nothing more then you’re building a rod for your own back. Particularly in our industry where information and the market change so rapidly would you be a fool to stand still.
If you are worried that training your guys up will encourage them to leave you then you really need to understand your staff better. Why would anyone want to leave a company that helps them grow in mind and experience and encourage them to make better people of themselves? Just like the egg analogy - good attitude within the company rubs off on your clients. Word of mouth marketing survives on good attitude and but also acknowledges bad attitude.
Invest in your staff in the same way you tell your clients to invest in IT. You know in the long run it will pay off if you give them structure and foresight.
Besides, who’s going to hold the fort when you go off on holiday if they don’t know anything!