The type of development that most of us are familiar with is the training programme-it’s usually
away from the daily routine or job.However,nowadays, it is acknowledged that expensive courses are not the only or even the best way of enabling people to learn. People can be empowered by development that occurs”on the job” than they would be going on courses.
The reason is that they will learn more quickly and effectively if what they are doing is practical and immediately germane. Nonetheless, this is not to say that formal training courses have no place in helping people to learn. You may decide that members of your team need some conventional training to meet identified needs.
Developing people in the workplace is useful for the following reasons:
1.it is inexpensive , 2. easy to organize, 3.you can get involve yourself,4. it is flexible.
Experienced managers and Chief Executives of industries have found the following opportunities for development useful:
i getting people involved in special projects, ii Shadowing-allowing someone to follow an experienced worker for a specified period of time- (salesmen/marketers can make use of this),
iii. one-on-one-coaching, iv. in-house workshops, v. on-the job training by an experienced worker-
sometimes called ‘sitting by Nelle’, vi. delegating some of their own tasks, vii. arranging for two people to swap jobs for a while, viii. seconding people into other departments,ix. suggesting that people read things- eg( technical manuals,journal articles, professional literatures, self study workbooks etc.),x. giving people the opportunity to do their line manager’s job when he is on annual leave or sick leave, xi. asking individual member to take turns to chair team meetings, organizing visits to other work areas- including customers and suppliers, xii-encouraging and supporting team and individual work in the community,xiii organizing focus groups to find out what customers think-brainstorming
Depending on what you prefer,some of the above suggestions may be used but the method you choose depends on the development need and the individual involved.
To be continued–.
By J.A Idowu
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