The current business climate requires regular education and training courses as a necessity. You, as an employee, need to develop your skills to ensure you do not fall behind your peers, both inside your current organization and in the wider marketplace. The qualifications will not just help your career, but also your employers as well, as long as the course is relevant to your role.
After speaking to a good friend he informed me that he wanted to take further training and become Belt qualified, either Green or Black Belt, for the reasons mentioned above and wanted my assistance to convince why his employers should allow him to take and possibly pay for the necessary qualifications.
My advice was as follows:
1: Link up what the course can offer to the current and future projects you will execute. E.g. What you will learn in the training will immediately assist your current role whilst also provide you with enhanced knowledge going forward. Perhaps the organization is looking to break into a new market or have new initiatives they want to start in the future. Certain projects require specific qualifications before you can participate and your employer should be happy that you have taken the time out to ensure you are correctly trained and therefore able to assist.
2: Show how you can share the knowledge with your colleagues. This will help persuade your employers as to why you should take the training course. Perhaps you could give a summary for your colleagues and potentially even give presentations or advise on their projects.
3: Highlight the key benefits and how the organization or department would benefit from having this new in-house knowledge and skillsets. For example, how the training can identify and remove waste from a process, which can then be replicated across the organization where applicable. This is different from point two, as you may not be required or responsible for showing colleagues; this could fall into others responsibilities such as departmental managers or divisional directors. This is also the time to show how the cost of the training can be easily off-set by the savings you can provide by applying your training.
You could even identify a significant issue within the organization or process that needs attention, raised either by customers or fellow employees, that you can address through your training. You might even be able to go so far as to begin quantifying the value of solving the problem, and then the projected ROI from the training. This would really show initiative … to make the most of the training and provide direct benefit back to the funder/employer.
4: Show how you can fit this into your current role and how it will not impact your performance due to time out at critical moments. For example, how far would you have to travel for the course? Technology now allows you to take training online minimizing time out of your busy day whilst allowing you to work in your own time outside of working hours.
5: Write a written letter to your employer highlighting the first four points. With smaller organizations this may not be necessary, however with larger companies this can really help cement your reasons as to why it would benefit you and therefore the organization. Provide full details such as dates, cost and why you think it is the best option. I.e. Show you have done your research!
Good training providers will help provide you with the required information. For example the PEX Institute provide a sample module recording for potential participants to view and ain a solid overview of what can be expected in the course in addition to a detailed agenda breakdown and benefits of the course.
Video testimonials from previous students will help give you and your employer an understanding of what can be achieved. Videos work better than written testimonials as this will show how the previous students were willing to give their time to recommend the training provider and do truly recommend the course(s).
Now go forth convince and your boss to pay for your required training!
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