Many distributors say that top talent is hard to come by, so many are focusing on creating top talent from their existing work force. More companies are implementing in-house training programs and investing more time and money in the future of their employees.
“It’s making sure that we have training programs in place to bring people into the organization and bring them up to speed, so we’re not always trying to find people who already know what they’re doing,” says Phil Derrow, president and CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp., Columbus, OH, in the latest issue of MDM Premium, which includes the 2014 MDM Distribution Trends Report.
But there’s another benefit to providing training throughout an employee’s career: It helps with retention. Continuous development helps keep employees engaged in the company and gives them a sense of importance to the company – a challenge many distributors see with regards to younger employees in particular.
“Contrary to what many people think, it’s not about salary or a title,” says Jim Thompson of consulting firm NewM Group in Making the Case for Millennials in Distribution. “Millennials believe they’ve earned a right to sit at the table. They’re looking for their voice to be heard and to be recognized that they have value.”
Read more about the importance of training in Training, Technology Take Front Seat in Employee Retention Strategies.
