Factor 5 – Tools, Training, and Resources

part 2| Chapter 7

faCtor 5: tools, traInIng, and resourCes

Employees need to be given clear expectations, tasks, and goals for them to accomplish . However, it is necessary to give employees the tools, training, and resources they need to accomplish the tasks and goals you put before them . This has a strong impact on levels of engagement .

Giving employees the proper tools, training, and resources can be accomplished through practices such as:

• Standard Visual Work instructions

• Checking in regularly with new-hires to ensure they have what they need to be successful (3-4 times per day in the first few weeks) • Making comprehensive lists of the tools, training, and resources required for a position and ensuring that each are executed during on-boarding and throughout a team member’s tenure

• Ensuring that each position that you are responsible for leading has strong training programs that are laid out clearly and comprehensively, and that team members are trained on each aspect of the training program • Holding responsible parties accountable for executing their portion of the training program • Tracking training program progress and ensuring that trainees are completing each phase of the program . • Ensuring training program effectiveness and revamping ineffective training programs • Ensuring that your team’s tools are working properly • Asking team member’s feedback on training program effectiveness and gathering input on any tools or resources they may need to be successful • Anything else you can think of that would improve the quality of tools, training, and resources your team members need to be successful

Your team members need the tools and resources that enable them to do their job effectively . If employees are given tools and resources that make the job more difficult, they will likely question the utility of such tools and why you won’t invest in tools that will actually help them . When tools and resources are sparse or inadequate, engagement levels will suffer .

faCtor 5 summary

We can engage our team members by:

Executing the 10 items on the previous page

Revamping training programs and holding parties accountable

Frequent check-ins with new-hires or existing team members who are learning a new skill

Feedback from team members regarding training program effectiveness and other resources they may need

Investing in tools that enhance the job as opposed to hindering performance

Ensuring resources are in place to maximize performance