During these difficult economic rimes, we are all under pressure to cut costs, and things like marketing and training are often the first things to be sacrificed. But, even though formal training may now feel like a luxury you can’t afford, it’s more important than ever for people in your organisation to keep on learning. Learning makes us more creative, more efficient, and more professional. So how can we keep on learning when there simply is no budget for training?
Firstly it is important to remember that learning is different from training. We need to keep our eyes open for the natural opportunities around us. Whether it is taking a secondment, or taking on a project that is slightly different to our normal line of work, our normal working life offers more learning opportunities than we realise. The key is to take a moment to think, both before and after your new activity. Think about what you could learn before you begin, and then reflect upon what you have learned after the event, and identify how you can apply that in the future. Teach people in your organisation how to learn so that they can find and maximise their own opportunities.
The second great way to keep learning is to use your network and associations. Attending low-cost events at places like your local Chamber of Commerce, or attending networking meetings that have themes, provide two very real benefits: you will learn new skills (or fresh your thinking), AND you will meet new people some of whom could be your potential customers, or introduce you to potential customers. Internally, encourage the use of multi-department meetings to share best practice across the organisation.
Thirdly, you should make use of what already exists. Blow the dust off those old training courses, and search your intranet for little-known nuggest of information. Tap into the vast array of useful material available by social media sites such as You Tube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Whatever you want to learn there is bound to be a guide to it somewhere on the Internet, and most of it is free.
In this modern age, it is easy to overlook what still remains one of the very best ways of learning – reading. Whether it’s an old-fashioned paperback or an e-book downloaded onto your Kindle, keep a business book handy, and dip into it daily. You could even offer to review a book for a website dedicated to your profession, which will not only focus your learning but also give you a little bit of free PR.
Finally, instead of having a ‘training budget’, why not consider introducing a ‘learning budget’? This can be specified in time rather than money, e.g. each person can take 3 personal development days – as long as they set objectives and show how they have met them, this could work just as well as formal training for some people.
Sheridan Webb
