By Jordan Jurkowitz,
Inside Sales New Business Development, Skillsoft
Strong
leadership is absolutely essential for any organization to survive and thrive
regardless of size and scale. It can make the strong stronger and offset
competitive disadvantages such as lack of funds and resources. Likewise, its
absence can cause even the biggest organizations to crumble.
The
world of sports provides many examples of how important leadership can be. Looking
back on the fall baseball season, the Boston Red Sox began with high hopes.
They had a roster full of former all-stars and one of the highest payrolls in sports.
They also had a new manager. But as the season unfolded, things didn’t quite
mesh. Why? It became evident that there was very little trust between the
manager and the players. Infighting ensued and the team fell to the bottom of
the standings.
Meanwhile,
the Baltimore Orioles, a team whose payroll and overall talent pool pales in
comparison to the Red Sox, have far exceeded the expectations most had for them
this year. Why? The team has thrived under the guidance
of a manager who has been renowned throughout his career for his ability to
maximize the talent and production of his teams.
My
role as an Inside-Sales New-Business-Development Associate puts me in a unique
position to recognize trends in different industries because I generally talk
to prospective clients during the early stages of their projects.
The
most important questions I ask usually start with why: Why is this training important? Why are you considering elearning? Why
will this help you accomplish your goals?
Over
the last several months, I’ve noticed a spike in the number of non-profit
professionals who have expressed an interest in elearning, especially in the
areas of business skills and leadership development. Why is this training important?
While
no two organizations are exactly alike, a frequent refrain in the non-profit
world is the need for employees to wear multiple hats within an organization.
Non-profits operate with limited resources, so it is not uncommon for them to
seek to fill leadership roles from within.
If
a social worker displays a knack for leading, they may find themselves with a
new role, regardless of whether or not their prior education and experience
makes them a good fit. This lack of formal training creates an acute need for
employees to learn important skills in a professional and efficient manner,
without the prohibitive costs of going back to school.
Why are you
considering elearning?