JPAbusiness

As we head into an uncertain FY20/21 business owners and managers may be tempted to think now is not the time to prioritise staff professional development needs. I believe the opposite is true.

One of the key elements of your business proposition – large or small – is your team, and they’re going through the same anxiety you are. The COVID-19 crisis is impacting their professional lives, personal lives, physical and mental wellbeing, just as it is yours.

Even though you may be struggling simply to pay wages, the last thing you want is to lose good people, whether you lose them physically, or in the sense that they become disengaged as a result of their anxiety about the current environment.

Topics: Template, business advice, business management, staff performance, running a business, professional development, Parramatta, staff wellbeing, managing employees, staff training, COVID-19, coronavirus, Central West NSW

Staff professional development (PD) needs are best identified through a formal performance management and evaluation process.

I recommend owners/managers sit down with their staff members once every 12 months, as part of their annual performance review process, and develop a PD plan jointly, with each individual.

This review process will identify where already skilled employees need information to support their growth to gain more advanced knowledge, and further develop their own business and leadership skills. 

You can create plans from scratch, or download our free Professional Development Plan template to get you started.

Topics: Template, business advice, professional development, Parramatta, Orange NSW, managing employees, staff training

We all want competent, confident staff who feel fulfilled and motivated by their work – as we've discussed in previous blogs, it's a win-win that provides benefits for both the employer and employee.

Training and professional development is key to staff developing that competence and confidence, so this week we're inviting you to download our free JPAbusiness Staff Training Plan and Professional Development Plan templates.

Below are some example plans we have filled out to give you an idea of how the templates can be used in your business (just click on the images to view the full-sized documents).

Topics: Template, business advice, professional development, Parramatta, Orange NSW, managing employees, staff training

*You don’t actually have to go to California, but I do recommend taking advantage of professional development opportunities whenever possible. 

A senior member of the team and I travelled to California recently to attend the Advanced Business Valuation and International Appraisers Conference. The conference was hosted by the American Society of Appraisers, an international organisation representing all appraisal disciplines, including business valuation.

It was a jam-packed three days of hearing from expert industry practitioners and thought-leaders on diverse topics, including:

Topics: Training and Professional Development, staff management, business advice, business development, Business advisor, professional development