Successful Blog

Educating Your Employees to Succeed

by

What have you done for your employees’ education of late? Perhaps it’s not a topic you think about a lot.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 34% of smaller companies offer their employees tuition reimbursement. It’s easy to understand why. In the current economic climate, many small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, and tuition doesn’t come cheap.

But if you’d like a more engaged, more productive, and more loyal workforce, educational reimbursement just might be a smart move for your business.

Here are five reasons why:

1. Your Employees Will Gain Skills You Need

When you need a more skilled workforce, where do you look? Do you turn to temps, or start recruiting?

By offering tuition reimbursement for courses relevant to your industry, you can find the skilled workforce you need among your existing employees. You can offer anything from a full degree in a relevant field, to enhanced training on new technology or business related courses.

Not only will you save on the expensive recruitment process, you’ll find many employee educational fees attract tax breaks.

Instead of putting yourself through the stress and uncertainty of finding new employees, why not make the most of your existing workforce by helping them to gain the skills you need?

2. You’ll Gain a More Productive Workforce

Further education increases productivity in two ways.

First, your employees will learn relevant skills that will help them to get even better at their jobs. But there is another bonus too – further education teaches a range of “soft skills”. These are skills that aren’t directly related to your company’s daily business, such as:

  • Better time management;
  • Increased confidence in public speaking;
  • A more active and engaged mind;
  • Enhanced teamwork skills.

The skills learned while studying are transferable skills that can be great assets to your company overall.

3. Staff Morale Will Go Up

Who doesn’t want a happier work force?

Increased staff morale means good things for both you and your employees:

  • A better working environment for your employees;
  • Less stress for you;
  • Less time spent dealing with interpersonal problems and despondent employees;
  • Tasks getting done and done well as employees approach their work in an upbeat frame of mind.

Offering tuition reimbursement can help to increase staff morale by showing your employees that you care about their future. By offering education and the chance to progress in their roles, you’re giving your employees something to aim for.

In fact, a study by the ROI institute showed that an impressive 64% of employers who offered tuition reimbursement noticed a significant increase in how engaged their employees were.

4. Company Loyalty Will Increase

“But if I offer my employees education, won’t they take the skills and go elsewhere?”

It’s easy to worry that if you pay for your employees more education, they’ll take those skills to your competitor and you’ll be left out of pocket.

In fact, the same study that found offering educational reimbursement increased loyalty, also found a 64% increase in company loyalty. Employees feel they have a future with a company that cares enough to invest in them.

You can safeguard against losing your newly trained employees by offering reimbursement as part of a contract that specifies how long your employees will need to stay with your company to get their fees paid.

And of course, you can make sure the programs you are offering are relevant to your company and to career advancement within it.

5. You’ll Have a Competitive Edge During Recruiting

Offering educational reimbursement can help to increase employee retention, but of course there will come a time when you need to recruit, whether that’s due to expansion or an employee taking extended leave.

As a small business, it can be hard to compete against bigger employers who can offer flashier recruitment packages. A good educational reimbursement package is another string to your recruiting bow.

As well as showing you care about your employees and want to invest in them, it’s a signal to new recruits that there are opportunities for growth within your company. You’re offering them more than a job; you’re offering them a career.

A well-planned tuition reimbursement program is a smart investment in your business, leading to happier, more skilled and more engaged employees.

If you offer relevant education in return for a certain period of loyalty, both you and your employees will benefit.

Photo credit: cmm.com.au

About the Author:  Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, marketing, Education via Yahoo, and SEO.

Do You Benefit From Offering Your Employees More Education?

by

How would you like a more dynamic, skilled workforce without the hassle of taking on new staff?

If your company could benefit from more knowledgeable employees with skills relevant to your niche, it might be time to consider offering your employees tuition assistance.

Many large companies – Apple, McAfee and Starbucks for instance – offer tuition assistance to their employees. You might have some understandable fears about doing so – more on those in a moment – but in fact offering your employees educational opportunities can reap many rewards.

Read on to find out what offering educational assistance can do for you, and how to allay some of your fears.

Who Has Succeeded With Tuition Assistance?

United Technologies Corp (UTC) decided that the best way to attract the employees they needed was to shape their existing workforce through their tuition assistance program.

Employees can gain an Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s, with UTC meeting the costs of tuition, fees and books. In turn, UTC has been rewarded with a more skilled and loyal workforce. Employees who have taken up their tuition assistance program are less likely to leave, and more likely to be promoted.

The Atlanta Police Foundation decided that tuition assistance was the way to go when it saw a need to better equip its staff and officers to cope with a very demanding job.

The Foundation wasn’t happy with the rate of officers leaving the force, and wanted to better retain its staff. By investing in tuition assistance to help officers earn their Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees, the Foundation was able to lower the number of officers leaving by 3%, and was rewarded with a more confident and capable workforce.

What if an Employee Gains More Skills And Leaves?

It’s an understandable fear. What if you invest in your employees education, only to find they take the qualifications you’ve paid for, and go off to greener pastures?

Yet as UTC and the Atlanta Police Foundation show, offering tuition assistance can actually help you retain employees.  It’s a hopeful thought, but of course as a business owner you want to ensure the investment you make in education benefits your company.

So what can you do to keep your newly honed talent in your fold?

* Make it relevant – If you fund educational programs that are relevant to your niche, you are empowering your employees to feel more confident within your field, and your company;

* Set some ground rules – Many employers include clauses such as only offering assistance to those who have been with the company for a certain amount of time, or asking employees to sign a contract saying they will stay for a set amount of  time after graduation;

*Offer opportunities for growth – you wouldn’t give someone the keys to a sports car, but no sports car. Offer your newly qualified employees the chance to grow and be promoted within your company.

How Will Offering Tuition Assistance Benefit the Company?

Tuition assistance offers many benefits for your company. How about:

* More skilled workforce;

* An incentive to stay with your company;

* The chance to find the qualified employees you need from within your own ranks;

* Better soft skills such as time management, teamwork and public speaking;

* Some educational benefits can be deducted for tax purposes;

* Better profile as a company who cares and invests in its employees.

Tuition assistance is a solid investment in your company’s future.

You’ll be equipping your employees with the skills they need to excel in your company, and offering them an incentive to stay and use those skills for your company’s benefit.

As a business owner, what if any educational opportunities do you offer your employees?

Photo credit: nydailynews.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, marketing, bachelor degree jobs, and SEO.

Learning By Doing

by

By Jeannie Walters

It’s sad to me how many people think they can’t do it. Whatever it is, they truly believe they cannot do it because they don’t have a rule book.

I remember interviewing a young woman who told me, in a job interview, that she could do whatever I outlined for her on a list and trained her carefully to do. “What if it’s not on the list?” I asked. Her answer was if it wasn’t on the list, she didn’t see it as one of her duties.

“It must be on the list.”

She didn’t get the job. Not because she wasn’t capable, because I believe she probably was, but because she was scared of the unknown. She was scared of trying new things. She felt she had to be taught every little thing before she would attempt it.

Baptism by fire is not a bad way to learn. It’s uncomfortable and scary, sure, but if you can survive, you can really make things happen.

There is no degree for customer experience. And yet that’s the focus of my career. Every day I’m doing something that scares me a little bit. And why not? Humans are awesomely unpredictable. What worked last time will not necessarily work this time.

How do you learn by doing?

Jump in, the water’s fine.

Next time you find yourself saying, “But I’ve never done that before” as an excuse to NOT do it – stop yourself. Rephrasing helps me. “I get to do this for the first time!”

Learn from the masters.

Since the dawn of time, humans have been learning from one another. If you’ve never hosted a webinar before, be sure to attend a few to see what works and what doesn’t. If you’re scared to start that kickboxing class, go to the gym the day before and scope it out a little. It’s ok to do research and recon.

Ask for help.

While this seems to be an issue for many of us, it’s a critical part of learning. Ask for support and help, even if it’s just having a few friends there to cheer you on.

Keep up.

The best people I know are perpetual students. With so much information so readily available out there, it’s easy to keep learning. If you are in a role that is about marketing, make sure you read and follow and watch what’s out there about that role. Do your homework, but don’t let that be a crutch, either. Sometimes you have to stop the surfing and get stuff done.

Forgive your missteps.

Have you ever noticed we are often kinder and more forgiving to others than we are to ourselves? Doing things we haven’t necessarily been taught how to do means we will learn from our inevitable mistakes. If something doesn’t work, examine what didn’t work about it so you can improve the next time. Cut yourself some slack. Forgive and move on.

Give it your all.

Creating something from nothing requires brain power, stamina and determination. There will be times you want to give up, mostly because it’s outside your comfort zone. Don’t do it. Set a small goal and accomplish it. Then set a loftier one and accomplish that. You can do this.

The world is such a cool place these days. We can connect with like-minded people all over the world and create our very own dream jobs. Don’t let a lack of “a list” prevent you from accomplishing great things. Do it. The learning will happen.

Author’s Bio: Jeannie Walters is the Chief Customer Experience Investigator™ and founder of 360Connext, a customer experience consulting firm. Walters has been focused on customer experience issues for more than 15 years and works with organizations all over the world.

Walters now speaks, writes, consults and generally thinks about how the small experiences we have each day – going to the bank, ordering online, tweeting – create the greater experience of our lives. Walters lives outside of Chicago with her husband Mike and their two young sons. As such, her current hobbies include cheering on distracted t-ball players and building impressive Lego villages.

Blogs in Education?

by

Blogs – Enhancing Education
A Guest Post by Brian Jenkins

cooltext455576688_blogging

Why do teachers blogs? They use them as a networking tools, to share news and tips with other teachers, to let parents know what’s going on in the classroom, and to distribute information to their students. Teachers are using blogs to post student assignments, handouts and notices, and to offer instructional tips. Teachers provide links to websites related to topics and concepts discussed in the classroom. Blogs are also used by teachers as question and answer forums. Also, school administrators are increasingly using blogs to communicate with parents, faculty members, the community, and other administrators.

Some teachers use blogs to showcase exemplary examples of student writing, ideas, and creativity. Blogs are utilized by teachers to create a classroom that goes beyond the boundaries of the traditional school setting.

Parents and School Blogs

Many teachers encourage parents to read their blogs. If parents follow these blogs they’re more likely to take an active role in their child’s education. The blogs may include summaries of what the students have been studying each month and the projects they’ve been working on.

Student Blogs

Many teachers encourage their students to maintain a blog, which can be assigned as an individual or a team project. A blog gives students an opportunity to express themselves and to enhance their writing skills. It provides students an opportunity to work on assignments as a group and improve their ability to work in a team. Students can also share course-related resources.

Blogs provide opportunities for students to express their ideas who may be too shy to participate in the classroom. They also provide students the opportunity to get feed back from their peers and discuss a variety of issues. Students can use a blog to create a digital portfolio.

Blog Topics

Blogs are used to focus on a variety of topics. Some of the popular categories are education news, college, E-learning, Internet culture, education policies, library and research, learning, technology, and teaching.

TeacherLingo (http://www.teacherlingo.com/) is an educational community of teacher blogs, lesson plans, and other teacher resources. Teachers can share experiences and advice with other educators.

Blogs are increasingly being used by teachers and students throughout the nation. They’re easy to create and use, and they certainly can enhance the education experiences of both teachers and students alike.

_____

Brian Jenkins contributes content related to elementary school teaching careers, among other education and career topics, to the BrainTrack website.

Thanks, Brian!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

I’m a proud affiliate of

third-tribe-marketing

EDNet, Adobe, Office Max, Social Media and Education

by

Social Media Meets Education?

relationships button

The few days have been filled with talk of education and social media. It seems that business has discovered teachers and the education business has realized that getting social is a good thing. Here’s some news from that direction …

EDNet Conference in Chicago

EDNet is a networking conference hosted by MDR (Market Data Retrieval.) Two years ago when EDNet was in Chicago, folks I talked to showed little curiousity regarding what I did on the web or how it might work in the educational space … though educational publishing is a huge part of my background. This year, on the event’s return to our city, a mere whisper of the term, “social media” and the conversation got interesting. Everyone was doing something or looking to find out more about it.

Adobe and Green Schools in Chicago

Does your community have Green Schools? …

A green school is a building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning. Green schools use less energy and water, fewer resources, and are healthier and safer places for students and teachers while also decreasing operating costs through reduced utility bills. USGBC – Chicago

Adobe has partnered their product with the U.S. Green Building Council and the Mayor of Chicago to “green” a school here. Every time someone signs up for a free trial of Adobe® Acrobat® Connect™ Pro, a twenty-five dollar donation will be made to the U.S. Green Building Council to help a school go green in Chicago. Each city who participates in the program will receive up to $100,000 to create classrooms that foster learning alongside smart environmental practices. Click the badge to find out more.

Office Max — A Day Made Better

a-day-made-better

It was true when I was teaching. It’s still true today. Teacher’s spend an average of $1200 of their own money on classroom supplies.

On October 6, 2009, 4000 volunteers will be taking $1000 in office supplies to surprise 1200 teachers. Office Max has a nice video on their site on their site about what they’re doing.

Business, education, and a little social media — imagine when it gets to be a two-way conversation.

How might these companies make their social media endeavors more social?

I make connections
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Buy the ebook. Learn the art of online conversation.

Net Neutrality 11-13-2006

by

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Follow the money

So I’m trying not to get too excited about all the Democrats running things on Capitol Hill right now. I know that things may not work out. On the net neutrality front, the punditry is that there won’t be a big telecom bill for a long time because the Bells have gotten the video franchise rules they wanted from the states. Some people think net neutrality isn’t really a standalone issue, so it can’t fill up an entire bill on its own.

But there is an angle that might work. Democrats should be, if they think about it, the party of long-range social planning. They should be the party that worries about investment in fundamentals that will support society into the future. Education! Stem cell research! National parks! Basic science of all kinds! And — universal access to broadband.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE