I discovered the importance of school last year as I returned to get my masters degree. I procrastinated going back for years. I didn't need it, I didn't have time, I can't put in the work required. You name it and I had an excuse to not go back. I want to admit I was wrong!
What I discovered is that continuing education helped me evolve as a leader. The best thing about school is that you get to hear other people's opinions. You get to hear their experiences and learn about other management styles.
Developing a student or professional network is another benefit of school. I have learned quickly that the more people connected to you the better off you will be. I don't necessarily mean to develop new job connections, but again having additional resources available can only be an enriching experience.
If you can't go back to school then find other means to learn. Whether it is continuing education through your employer, or training sessions linked to what you do for a living, or just reading a book, find the best way to continue to learn. You won't regret it.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Eliminate the Training?
I work for a department involved with tracking service level, average handle time, and staffing levels. The call center I'm involved with had a two week trend of low service levels. Anytime this occurs a leadership meeting takes place reviewing why the service level outcome has been below expectations. As the discussion progresses the topic about cutting office activity arises. Meetings, mentoring and coaching, projects, and training are all reduced in an effort to keep people at their desks answering the phones which will increase the service level.
One of the events that was talked about being eliminated or reduced was training. It always amazes me that this is one of the first events mentioned. My response was to keep training and reduce or eliminate other events. I suggested leaving training because sacrificing the potential to increase knowledge should never take place. Training is one of those non negotiable events that should never be reduced. What do you think? Can training be sacrificed if other office metrics aren't being met? If your answer is no why is it that training is often the first event to be reduced sometimes without hesitation? I'm curious at what you think.
One of the events that was talked about being eliminated or reduced was training. It always amazes me that this is one of the first events mentioned. My response was to keep training and reduce or eliminate other events. I suggested leaving training because sacrificing the potential to increase knowledge should never take place. Training is one of those non negotiable events that should never be reduced. What do you think? Can training be sacrificed if other office metrics aren't being met? If your answer is no why is it that training is often the first event to be reduced sometimes without hesitation? I'm curious at what you think.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Introduction to the Blog
Hello everybody and welcome to the Leadership Corner! The idea behind the name of the Blog is to corner all ideas, thoughts, examples, and stories regarding leadership. This cannot be done by one individual. Leadership should be about letting colleagues understand a wide variety of leadership styles, what works and what doesn't work, and overcoming challenges in management.
Lets embrace leadership and get our thoughts and ideas out there so everybody reading this can benefit. This is a chance for us all to look at leadership differently. Lets view these ideas together on the Leadership Corner.
Lets embrace leadership and get our thoughts and ideas out there so everybody reading this can benefit. This is a chance for us all to look at leadership differently. Lets view these ideas together on the Leadership Corner.
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