Training and Development

Training, as part of the broader field of Human Resource Development (HRD), is still a key activity of organizations. There are several benefits (and problems) with implementing team approaches to improve organizational effectiveness and to empower individuals and teams with the information and authority to make decisions on the front lines. Business success today mandates the use of these high performance work teams throughout our organizations. But making the transition to teams is not easy. Training can be useful in many ways to help people function more effectively in team environments, including:

• Communication- It is necessary that people learn how to communicate effectively in teams and between teams across the entire organization. Employees must use communication to resolve and manage conflicts, and to air and resolve grievances and complaints.
• Team management and functioning - Managing projects, setting goals, clarifying roles, and solving problems in teams are skills that must be developed. New organizational skills must be developed if teams are to operate effectively and efficiently.
• Leadership development- Team leaders and upper management need to learn how to act as role models for team operation, and how to promote the active building, leadership and management of teams.
• Personal development- Employees need help in overcoming fears about the loss of job security and independence, and to learn how to continue to make individual contributions within team structures. Interpersonal skills need to be developed, especially with respect to group problem solving.

Training and development can be classified into several sub-categories such as Employee training, Organization Development, Performance appraisal and Career development. Training needs to be more fully integrated with, and responsive to the business of the organization. Distributed management and team environments are ways for the organization to become more effective. It is logical, then, that the training functions itself is a good place to start implementing high performance work teams.