Managers, have you ever cautioned, warned, scolded, or had to re-train a new employee for the umpteenth time who developed a pattern of making workplace mistakes?
Impatience, annoyance, frustration, regret, or anger may have been emotions that some of you in leadership roles may have felt. However, if the employee finally caught on to the process, then you were most likely relieved, ecstatic, satisfied, or grateful especially if they positively impacted your job. How did you deal with the employee making the mistakes from the start and did what you do or not have a lot to do with why they are a success now? Most likely yes!
Every company has a routine or process that must be followed to get results. When new employees are not trained effectively or are left to manage process on their own, they are set up to fail. It isn't any wonder why some new hires will quit as soon as they start when they see there is no one or nothing that helps them perform their jobs successfully. In addition, they may not have felt welcomed from day one and unfortunately discovered that there were no tools prepared to help them do their jobs.
Some poor managers have dealt with workplace mistakes by doing the following: being overly critical, ignoring them because they plan on leaving their jobs, respectfully addressing them, or posting mistakes up in view as a way of shaming an employee into performing better. Depending on the personality of some workers, they will simply not catch on no matter what they are told or done to them.
Managers who were simply too impatient, too quick with explanations, short-tempered, or over-the-top during the training process, most likely were unable to keep anyone around long term whether the new worker was quick to learn or not. If you are looking to keep someone, you have got to be understanding about unintentional errors and willing to shell out some praise and appreciation when a new employee finally does things right.
People, who are already negative about their workplaces, should never be put in positions to train others, no matter how good they might be at their jobs. When a leader makes the mistake of doing that, he or she will suffer the consequences left behind by the old employee/trainer. The relationship with the new employee starts off being challenged, because he or she has been told much unflattering things about the leadership and coworkers. The new employee may not trust the manager, supervisor or coworkers who were not liked by the old employee. Sometimes if you want good training, you are going to have to do it yourself whether you would like to or not if there just so happens to be bad blood between you and others.
When it comes to a new employee making mistakes, a manager will need to remember the following:
1. Be patient. Remember someone had to be patient with you and fix your errors, so why not do the same?
2. Avoid talking unnecessarily to fellow coworkers about the new employees' errors. You may be creating division between workers from the start without even knowing it.
3. Demonstrate self-control regarding the joking and name-calling concerning a new employees' errors. You will come across as looking like a workplace bully even if you claim you meant nothing by your statements. A complaint made to the human resources team will be dealt with and will most likely mean something.
4. Never assume that a new employee knows everything about the job, the computer applications and more just because he or she has worked elsewhere using similar tools. Oftentimes, companies will customize certain applications to fit their specific environment; therefore, one may not be able to jump in right away and start working.
5. Make time to answer questions and avoid blowing an employee off during their time of need. No matter how you might feel about the questions and interruptions, keep in mind you want this employee to do a good job. Their work is not just a reflection of his or herself, but you as well as the team.
6. Don't rage in view while a new employee is still learning. You look mentally unstable and he or she will consider to leaving the job sooner rather than later. Who wants to work with a ticking time bomb, someone who you have to walk around on eggshells for fear they might freak out?
7. Keep personal conversation such as marriage, interests and hobbies to a minimum. With new employees, a first impression is a lasting one and if you get too personal, he or she may form a judgment about you that will be hard to dispel later on.
If you noticed from the information provided in this article, that much of what makes or breaks the training process is not with the new employee, but with the trainer who trains the new employee.
When we think about those who were good trainers, who might come to mind? What did they do that was quite helpful when they trained you? You might want to utilize some of those tactics. Training employees doesn't have to be a challenge, but it becomes one because some trainers simply don't want to follow wise counsel. Trainers' mistakes are what ultimately costs the company much money every time a new employee quits or is fired and has to onboard yet a new employee.
Nicholl McGuire is the author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet? and other books
Showing posts with label workplace training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workplace training. Show all posts
Sunday
Saturday
Safety in the Retail Workplace
The retail environment may appear to be a relatively safe workplace (save the disgruntled shopper or two), and unlike a construction site or workplace that develops chemicals, a retail store doesn't seem to pose any obvious threats. However, retail workers face everyday hazards, from trip-and-fall risks to back injuries resulting from lifting heavy boxes.
With retailers typically setting aside $10-30,000 for each lost time injury, the unforeseen retail injuries can quickly add up. Employees who don't follow safety guidelines can wield a huge impact on a company's bottom line. Following are general guidelines that every retail owner and employee needs to protect themselves from the potential injury pitfalls of retail:
Safety in a Retail Store
1. Stack cartons so that they're not piled at the end of aisles where people could trip over them.
2. Clean all floors, aisles and stairs and keep them free of debris, trash, spills or fallen merchandise.
3. Make sure that all floor mats and carpets lie flat, free from ripples or curled edges, and are slide resistant.
4. All exit paths should be free of obstruction.
5. Stack merchandise in a stable manner and that's easy to reach.
6. Remove protruding objects from displays, counters, tables and floor stacks.
7. Maintain at least 30 inches of clearance around sources of ignition such as heaters, boilers, and electrical panels.
Tips for Proper Lifting
1. Size up the load. If it looks too heavy, use lifting equipment or ask for help.
2. Before lifting and carrying an object, check to make sure your route is free of obstruction, water, and other trip-and-fall hazards.
3. As you lift, place your feet close to the object, bend your knees and get a firm hold on the box. Lift primarily using your leg muscles.
4. Keeping the load close to your body without twisting or turning, lift straight up.
5. Turn your body by changing foot position as you start walking, rather than twisting.
6. Set the load down slowly, bending at the knees. Do not let go of the load until you've lowered it securely to the floor.
7. Transport carts and wheel racks by pushing - not pulling.
Receiving Dock Safety
1. Keep the dock area clear of displays or other debris.
2. Clean any spills or wet areas immediately.
3. Check all pallet jacks before use.
4. Don't hoist yourself up or jump from the dock to ground level. Use the stairs to fo from ground level to the dock, or vice versa.
5. Never ride a pallet jack or forklift.
To avoid injury or damage to inventory, retailers should also use caution when opening shipping and receiving freight. Perhaps one of the most often overlooked precautions is in the use of a utility knife. Retailers are constantly receiving shipments and orders that require careful opening to prevent injury as well as damage to the product. Use the following guidelines to safely open a carton with a box cutter:
1. Always keep a box cutter with a sharp blade handy when working with freight and opening boxes.
2. Set the carton on a flat, steady surface.
3. Position the carton at an angle to your body so that the cutter will not be moving directly towards you.
4. Place one hand on the box and use the other hand to firmly hold the box cutter.
5. Make a smooth cut, and then turn the carton a quarter revolution. Make another smooth cut, and turn the carton again.
6. Cut as close to the top of the box as possible.
7. Check the condition of the box cutter's blade. Dull blades require more pressure and increase the risk of injuries.
To work well, a safety knife needs to be mistake-proof. In other words, its safety features must be so deeply built-in that a new, untrained employee can't accidentally override them.
About the Author
Safecutters Inc., provides an online store of utility knife box cutters for opening shipping boxes and shipping packages, as well as safety knives to open moving boxes and packages. For more information about Klever Kutter and other Safecutters products contact us!
With retailers typically setting aside $10-30,000 for each lost time injury, the unforeseen retail injuries can quickly add up. Employees who don't follow safety guidelines can wield a huge impact on a company's bottom line. Following are general guidelines that every retail owner and employee needs to protect themselves from the potential injury pitfalls of retail:
Safety in a Retail Store
1. Stack cartons so that they're not piled at the end of aisles where people could trip over them.
2. Clean all floors, aisles and stairs and keep them free of debris, trash, spills or fallen merchandise.
3. Make sure that all floor mats and carpets lie flat, free from ripples or curled edges, and are slide resistant.
4. All exit paths should be free of obstruction.
5. Stack merchandise in a stable manner and that's easy to reach.
6. Remove protruding objects from displays, counters, tables and floor stacks.
7. Maintain at least 30 inches of clearance around sources of ignition such as heaters, boilers, and electrical panels.
Tips for Proper Lifting
1. Size up the load. If it looks too heavy, use lifting equipment or ask for help.
2. Before lifting and carrying an object, check to make sure your route is free of obstruction, water, and other trip-and-fall hazards.
3. As you lift, place your feet close to the object, bend your knees and get a firm hold on the box. Lift primarily using your leg muscles.
4. Keeping the load close to your body without twisting or turning, lift straight up.
5. Turn your body by changing foot position as you start walking, rather than twisting.
6. Set the load down slowly, bending at the knees. Do not let go of the load until you've lowered it securely to the floor.
7. Transport carts and wheel racks by pushing - not pulling.
Receiving Dock Safety
1. Keep the dock area clear of displays or other debris.
2. Clean any spills or wet areas immediately.
3. Check all pallet jacks before use.
4. Don't hoist yourself up or jump from the dock to ground level. Use the stairs to fo from ground level to the dock, or vice versa.
5. Never ride a pallet jack or forklift.
To avoid injury or damage to inventory, retailers should also use caution when opening shipping and receiving freight. Perhaps one of the most often overlooked precautions is in the use of a utility knife. Retailers are constantly receiving shipments and orders that require careful opening to prevent injury as well as damage to the product. Use the following guidelines to safely open a carton with a box cutter:
1. Always keep a box cutter with a sharp blade handy when working with freight and opening boxes.
2. Set the carton on a flat, steady surface.
3. Position the carton at an angle to your body so that the cutter will not be moving directly towards you.
4. Place one hand on the box and use the other hand to firmly hold the box cutter.
5. Make a smooth cut, and then turn the carton a quarter revolution. Make another smooth cut, and turn the carton again.
6. Cut as close to the top of the box as possible.
7. Check the condition of the box cutter's blade. Dull blades require more pressure and increase the risk of injuries.
To work well, a safety knife needs to be mistake-proof. In other words, its safety features must be so deeply built-in that a new, untrained employee can't accidentally override them.
About the Author
Safecutters Inc., provides an online store of utility knife box cutters for opening shipping boxes and shipping packages, as well as safety knives to open moving boxes and packages. For more information about Klever Kutter and other Safecutters products contact us!
What Project Management Training Did For Me and My Workplace
My workplace is big on training and eight weeks ago it was my turn to attend PRINCE2 training. PRINCE2 is the OGC project management methodology. I had already participated in a PRINCE2 foundation course and was more than ready for additional PRINCE2 training that would prepared me for the official practitioner’s exam. In essence PRINCE2 is essentially a process oriented method that breaks up a project into ‘bite size’ chunks of work with resource prioritisation and role allocation being well defined.
It wasn’t just because my workplace wanted me to attend a PRINCE2 course, I wanted to attend so I could improve my own project management skills. I had worked on successful projects in the past, but I was aware that there was an increasing need in today’s business world to define general processes for projects. Working out a successful strategy for every project was becoming increasingly difficult, and I knew that additional PRINCE2 training would be able to help. My project manager would readily agree a project involves combining resources and skills with technology and ideas, therefore ensuring good product delivery. Projects need to operate within time and risks constraints and PRINCE2 training would address all of those concerns very effectively.
PRINCE2 training is particularly beneficial for people who are involved with managing projects, and not just any ol’ person is allowed to teach the course. First of all they need to be associated with an accredited PRINCE2 training organisation so they can pass on the necessary skills to trainees. Our trainers certainly had the right skills; they taught us first class project management skill so we could feel confident about managing various projects successfully on the work front. We were taught a flexible and adaptable approach that could suit all types of projects, and we were provided with common systems, procedures, and an understanding of PRINCE2 terminology. The trainers said that when we were all ‘singing from the same hymn sheet,’ so to speak, there were fewer mistakes made in the work place.
The PRINCE2 training was hard work and a challenge but enjoyable at the same time. There was some fun practical learning that helped to reinforce the theory we had learnt and the information was imparted in different ways to cover all learning styles. We sat our exam at the end of the course which lasted for 3 hours and an overall score of 180 out of a possible 360 was needed to pass. I am very proud to say my score was 300.
By the end of the course lots of us were saying: ‘this is the best course I’ve ever been on.’ ‘How did I ever manage without PRINCE2?’ ‘What’s the next training course can I go on?’
Since the training the difference I have noticed in my own project management skills are amazing. There is a definite improvement in the way I handle projects and projects are producing better results because with PRINCE2 the methods are largely simplified, owing to its well directed layout, and therefore things fall into place. As a direct result of my improved project management skills my boss has been very impressed and given me a promotion and a pay rise. Another bonus with PRINCE2 training is that it looks great on my resume. PRINCE2 is recognised around the world as a world class qualification and is seen as the standard way for the management of project works.
I would recommend anyone who is involved with project management to attend PRINCE2 training and implement what they have learnt in their workplace, because not only has the training benefited my workplace it has directly benefited me.
About the Author
Brian Kelly wrote the Article 'What PRINCE2 Training Did for Me and My Workplace' and recommends you visit http://www.afaprojects.com/resources_prince2.asp for more information on PRINCE2 training.
It wasn’t just because my workplace wanted me to attend a PRINCE2 course, I wanted to attend so I could improve my own project management skills. I had worked on successful projects in the past, but I was aware that there was an increasing need in today’s business world to define general processes for projects. Working out a successful strategy for every project was becoming increasingly difficult, and I knew that additional PRINCE2 training would be able to help. My project manager would readily agree a project involves combining resources and skills with technology and ideas, therefore ensuring good product delivery. Projects need to operate within time and risks constraints and PRINCE2 training would address all of those concerns very effectively.
PRINCE2 training is particularly beneficial for people who are involved with managing projects, and not just any ol’ person is allowed to teach the course. First of all they need to be associated with an accredited PRINCE2 training organisation so they can pass on the necessary skills to trainees. Our trainers certainly had the right skills; they taught us first class project management skill so we could feel confident about managing various projects successfully on the work front. We were taught a flexible and adaptable approach that could suit all types of projects, and we were provided with common systems, procedures, and an understanding of PRINCE2 terminology. The trainers said that when we were all ‘singing from the same hymn sheet,’ so to speak, there were fewer mistakes made in the work place.
The PRINCE2 training was hard work and a challenge but enjoyable at the same time. There was some fun practical learning that helped to reinforce the theory we had learnt and the information was imparted in different ways to cover all learning styles. We sat our exam at the end of the course which lasted for 3 hours and an overall score of 180 out of a possible 360 was needed to pass. I am very proud to say my score was 300.
By the end of the course lots of us were saying: ‘this is the best course I’ve ever been on.’ ‘How did I ever manage without PRINCE2?’ ‘What’s the next training course can I go on?’
Since the training the difference I have noticed in my own project management skills are amazing. There is a definite improvement in the way I handle projects and projects are producing better results because with PRINCE2 the methods are largely simplified, owing to its well directed layout, and therefore things fall into place. As a direct result of my improved project management skills my boss has been very impressed and given me a promotion and a pay rise. Another bonus with PRINCE2 training is that it looks great on my resume. PRINCE2 is recognised around the world as a world class qualification and is seen as the standard way for the management of project works.
I would recommend anyone who is involved with project management to attend PRINCE2 training and implement what they have learnt in their workplace, because not only has the training benefited my workplace it has directly benefited me.
About the Author
Brian Kelly wrote the Article 'What PRINCE2 Training Did for Me and My Workplace' and recommends you visit http://www.afaprojects.com/resources_prince2.asp for more information on PRINCE2 training.
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