Confronting Leadership Challenges with Cutting-Edge Training
Sarasota, FL.: People can experience many changes in a career, including a promotion into a leadership role. Without proper training or preparation, employees are often thrust into management positions resulting in higher turnover and organizational instability. CareerEdge has supported leader training in the healthcare sector with much success for the last four years. Recently, manufacturers asked for assistance in developing their own new leaders and building a stable workforce. With input from these employer partners, CareerEdge developed a pilot consortium training for “Emerging Leaders” in the industry.
The manufacturing training launched in May 2018 with two separate classes in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Already employers are sharing the positive impact the class has had on their organization.
“In a growing industry, often people are promoted without the proper soft skills to lead. After sending some of our team members to the Emerging Leaders class, we have been pleased to see them honing new skills in communication, management and other techniques,” shares Gina Burwood, Human Resource Manager for Pierce Manufacturing.
The program was delivered by trainer Lori Ann Roth, President of LARG (Learning and Reflective Growth) and included team building, personality differences, communication styles, conflict resolution and exploration of individual strengths. After completing the class, participants rated the program 4.83 on a 5-point scale and 100% would recommend the class to others. With these encouraging outcomes, many of the manufacturing employers are planning to start their own leadership trainings to better their company culture and inspire workers.
“It is so important to develop workers into leaders as they career-ladder and up-skill within an organization. Giving employees the resources and tools they need to succeed will ultimately lead to further success for the entire organization,” explains Mireya Eavey, Chief Workforce Strategist for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and CareerEdge Funders Collaborative.
PGT Industries and Pierce Manufacturing hosted the CareerEdge-funded course and 50 individuals from 17 local manufacturing employers participated in the opportunity. Employers included: Atlantic Mold and Machining, Ergotronix, Inc., KHS USA, Inc., Pierce Manufacturing, RND Automation & Engineering, Safran Electrical & Power, Air Products and Chemicals, Osprey Biotechnics, Berry Global, PGT Industries, Tervis, ALLIEDFLEX Technologies, Inc., Enzymedica, Quality Enclosures, Sterling Manufacturing, Adams Group and Trident Building Systems.
CareerEdge has helped employers to see the correlation between quality of leadership and employee satisfaction, as well as bottom-line impacts. Research has shown that supervisors that establish high levels of meaningful interaction and support for their subordinates will increase employee productivity. Leadership training is just one opportunity that leads to growth and advancement, which directly affects an organization’s long-term success.
