Let me open this up for you. Business owners need to develop, and as they do, so do their staff.

You may have heard some say: “What if we train our staff and they leave?" or “What if we don’t train them, and they stay?"


​Indeed, what if your staff stay while they lack the skills to perform their job to the best of their abilities, because, since you are afraid they quit, you have decided that they should not be trained?

​I have met many business owners claiming that they had stopped providing training to their staff because they were leaving the company afterward. Interestingly, I never had that issue in 18 years running businesses. Of course, I had to deal with staff resignations, not because I was offering training courses, but because, one way or another, I had ceased caring about them.

To train the staff or not to train the staff, that is not the question. The real question is: To show leadership or not to show leadership?

If you practice a sport, you easily understand that you need to put a certain amount of training in order to get better at it. The same principle applies at work. Competence is a basic human need. As a leader, you are responsible to develop your people's skills so they keep on progressing. 

Here are 5 easy-to-implement suggestions to create a learning environment:

1. Ask your staff to read a specific book, listen to a particular podcast, or watch a video, then reflect on it together, and brainstorm the implications on your business.
2. Organize 1-day staff rotations. For instance, send your accountants with your sales people, and your sales people with your accountants, so they better understand each other's jobs, and recognize each other's challenges.
3. Create your own internal conferences. Based on the model of TEDx or Nerd Night for example, give the stage to your staff to present and discuss a particular topic - business related or not - to their colleagues. 
4. Let your people make mistakes. They will strive if they are not afraid of being wrong, and see mistakes as opportunities to improve. Celebrate their efforts.  
5. Use coaching to grow your staff. Coaching is about guiding and listening through questioning techniques, it is not about telling. Speak less and listen more. 

  
Training is not a cost, it is an investment.

Staff, suppliers, clients, friends, acquaintances, government officials, and many more people constantly solicit entrepreneurs; it is like everybody expects something from them. Yet, they often find themselves feeling lonely.

Regardless of the industry they operate in, entrepreneurs carry many responsibilities, and they usually directly impact others' lives. 
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The entrepreneurship journey comes with countless emotional challenges. For instance:

- Anxiety whether or not they will be able to pay their staff salaries at the end of the month, and have enough financial resources to support their families
- Fear of making the wrong decisions and the potential consequences on their businesses as well as their staff
- Stress dealing with constant problem solving, coping with high workload associated with a lack of social life

As a result, entrepreneurs bear much pressure. They experience isolation because they believe that no-one else can deal with such tension. While I agree there are decisions that cannot be delegated, entrepreneurs are not as lonely as they might think they are.

Here’s 5 ways to address your solitude:

1. Realize that you are not alone. Most entrepreneurs feel the same way. Join or create a community of peers (online or offline), a place where you can share experiences and discuss ideas with others, because you walk the same path, and talk the same language. 
2. Set up a Board comprised of external independent people. Regularly schedule meetings during which you address the day-to-day challenges as well as the 5-year development plan. Use the Board to broaden your perspective, and keep yourself accountable. 
3. Get out of the office. Start an activity that forces you to clear up your mind and meet people. Let it become your private moment, during which you will not allow yourself to think about work.
4. Communicate more. Ensure your staff know your business strategy and your expectations. Give them more reasons to believe in your vision, and they will take ownership of it, naturally relieving pressure from your shoulders.
5. Hire a Business Coach. Great coaches are great listeners. They can help you be more efficient, by reducing your stress level, and focusing your attention on getting things done.

"I want you to know that you are not alone in your being alone" - Stephen Fry

Laurent

PS : If you want to make that first step and find a listening ear, book a free coaching discovery session with me. You just need to pick up a date in the calendar.​