Training and Development Essay Example for Free

Training and Development Essay Introduction Training and development is an integral part of a company’s success. It ensures a motivated and educated workforce by delivering them new insights and developments on their work. Throughout my career in sales and in the fashion and modeling industry, I have been dealing with various trainings and development programs. I have developed sales training methods for several sales companies. I have trained aspiring models on projection, poise and public speaking. Most recently, I have mentored my team of professionals in my image consulting business to deliver the best possible image solutions to our clients. As a team leader, mentor and teacher, I am constantly evaluating past training strategies and looking for new opportunities to create and develop training methods for my team. I follow simple steps or model in designing and developing a training coursework. First, I do training needs assessment of my team. When assessing I do one-on-one interview or pass around a piece of paper where they write topics that they think can help them improve the way they do their job. I assess their current skills and industry knowledge, and benchmark it against the standards of the company or what that company expects them to do. I then design the training and set verifiable objectives and evaluation methods. When designing trainings, I like to inject fun and contact. I learned early on that good sales leaders take their sales team seriously by making sure there is a balance between control and fun within the team to promote creativity and high-sense of motivation (Forsyth, 1999, 64). I always see to it that I include various topic-related games where they can pick some learning from. I also always encouraged everyone to speak and share their own experiences from the field. Work Experience – Pyramide USA Pyramide USA is an American company and a global leader in the climbing wall industry. One of their products is Poolside Climbing Wall from AquaClimb. As the Lead Sales Team Trainer, I trained the entire sales team in sales and presentation. I was responsible for marketing AquaClimb through branding, advertising, database marketing, direct marketing, events or trade shows, international marketing, internet marketing, market research, and all public relations-related efforts. I decided what trainings to do based on my deliverables for the company. In line with my responsibilities, I trained my sales team in the following areas: lead generation, customer presentation and product demonstration, sales closing, events management, and professional image as part of selling customer confidence in the company brand. The first big training I did for the company was about the product that we were going to sell. We went through the detail of the sales pitch, the product benefits and the company support for dealers. We tackled the specifics of the product feature, as far as installation of the product and safety precautions for the customers. We also did costing and sales mark-up estimates, as well as lead generation. These were all-important because AquaClimb was new to the market. After the product and sales presentation, I asked each of them to prepare their own sales pitch based from the training and present to me for critiquing.   This was part of my evaluation of the training’s efficacy. But, I like to create balance so I asked the participants to rate the training as well, about content, delivery, and my competence on the subject. We composed action steps where my team, in a group of two, discussed how they plan to use the learning in selling the product.   After that big training, I made it a point to conduct weekly 30-minute Marketing Task Force Training to cover selling, customer service, motivational training, events management and personality development. Apart from that, I made it a point to schedule sales calls twice a week with 2-3 individuals from the team. I also coordinated sales department teambuilding with the company’s human resources manager. Together, we designed a weekend team building retreat that increases employee motivation and focus. We covered important parts of management such as employee loyalty, trust, internal conflict resolution, and team goal achievement by fun games and group activities. At the start of the training, we leveled off expectations of the participants and explained objectives. At the end, we gave out evaluation questionnaire forms to measure employee satisfaction and learning. AquaClimb’s distribution is through a worldwide authorized dealer network, which I helped develop from the get go through the AquaClimb Dealer and Agent Programs. The program aimed to set up the dealer support network to foster and continue strong customer relations with all past and current customers. I coordinated with the Director of Customer Service with the design and implementation of Customer Service training about the use and delivery of service using the 24-hour live support program. We evaluated the training based on number of customer requests of complaints handled each staff and compared it with the previous data before the network installation. I provided customer feedback to Director of Operations on AquaClimb products, including but not limited to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the relevant marketplace. Feedbacks were from customer service reports, market surveys, and dealers’ evaluation of AquaClimb product and services.   Lastly, the sales training I helped developed with the company can was measurable through the increase in sales. For this, I consolidated monthly sales report and sales trends and presented those to Director of Sales. Work Experience – Charles Mason Inc. Charles Mason Inc. afforded me a worthwhile experience of organizing and staging special events for the company from 1997 to 2000. As the Special Events Coordinator, I was in charge of coordinating all aspects involved in planning and carrying out large-scale corporate events and meetings and direct supervision of a team comprised of 10 Assistant Coordinators. As part of producing grandiose and stylish events, I developed basic interior design coursework and events management for my team to equip them with necessary skills in running events. Specifically, I trained all the assistant coordinators in flower and lighting design. I held a 3-day design workshop for my team where they learned basic flower decoration and lighting effects. I developed the workshop through extensive research on the subject and interviews with flower shop owners, and events lights operators. As part of the training evaluation, I asked them to apply what they learned with whatever current projects we are handling, by sharing creative ideas and brainstorming. I measure transfer to evaluate my staff. For instance, I know the training worked because on several occasions I let my team handle the event design with me as supervising director only, and they were able to produce elegant designs for the show. Work Experience – Model Quest Inc. Model Quest Inc., a national model and talent scouting company, landed me a job in New York as a Sales Specialist / Training Coordinator between 2000 and 2004. My primary job responsibilities were to coordinate all aspects of public relations events and model search shows, in national and international locations. I provided industry training and techniques to prospective clients and consistently sold more than 1,000 training sessions each event which enabled the company to triple profits within the first three months of business. Because of my significant contribution to the company’s financial interests, I served as a Keynote Speaker and Teacher for the company, where I conducted all the training and development for all the prospective models. My own experiences as a model helped me to develop three separate training modules for aspiring models. The first module is an orientation on the fashion industry, the industry standards for models, and how Model Quest is going to prepare them for success. The second module consists of: make-up and grooming, public speaking (including diction, pronunciation and voice modulation) and social etiquette. The third module is about poise, projection, stage presence, runway modeling, photo posing, body language and photo session. I take in 10-20 participants in each workshop that usually lasts for about 1-2 months. The workshop varies from lectures to hands-on exercises depending on the set objectives. Training the candidates to be international models is fun and enjoyable. Yet, it is also challenging and the rewards come when those models get modeling contracts, knowing that my training helped launched their exciting careers. Work Experience – Tear Sheet Magazine My work with Tear Sheet Magazine, the insiders guide to the modeling and fashion industry, led me back to sales and advertising. As the Sales Associate/ Advertising Writer, I sold magazine advertising space to corporate and fashion advertisers, wrote and published instructional type articles on style trends and image tips in my monthly column. I also trained new sales representatives on sales, and presentation strategies.  My training designs consisted of one-on-one mentoring on handling individual accounts, and classroom training on sales presentations and goals. For the individual accounts, I covered the basics on the magazine’s rate cards, magazine’s circulation and readership, and customized sales pitch. For the classroom training, I focused on motivation and goal setting, presenting, discussed different types of competitors and their advantages and disadvantages, and how to handle common objections. I evaluated the training based on sales growth and account reten tion. Work Experience – Leslie Wayne Image Consulting Because of my extensive exposure in fashion, modeling, personality development and sales, and as an industry professional myself, I decided to start my own image consulting business, the Leslie Wayne Image Consulting (LWIC). I set up a â€Å"team of professionals including experienced wardrobe stylists, photographers, makeup artists, hairdressers, licensed cosmetologists who are acknowledged of techniques and product secrets that were educated by the world’s top beautifiers in action. Together, we provide the marketplace a one-stop shop of image improvement, nutrition and wellness, fashion and style, as well as wedding consultancy services.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My travels and experiences onset have improved my natural flare for fashion and artistic eye. It also helped me gain intimate knowledge of the fashion and beauty industries. I mainly train my team to provide clients with products and methods that deliver. I created different phases for my Comprehensive Training for Image Consultants. I wanted to set a standard way of consulting for the company that everyone can carry out. The first phase of my training is about physical or aesthetics consultation. I coached my team to do Image Analysis or Makeover Consulting, Fashion Styling or Wardrobe Consulting, and Makeup Analysis. I did the coaching in classroom type discussing the how-to’s first, then we move to reviewing of random individuals based on image projection, wardrobe review, make-up consult. I also helped them with the scripts that they should say when giving feedback. The second phase is about public speaking and social graces consultation. Here I coached them about the public speaking including vocal communications, nonverbal communications and etiquette. Here we covered topics ranging from voice, grammar, and diction, body language, business etiquette, social graces and dining. Most of these trainings are workshops and exercises. The third phase of my program is service excellence where I coach them to go the extra mile when servicing clients and to listen, respond to the clients, offer friendly, professional, individual advice. As part of this, I mentor my team in coordinating with our strategic partners such as photographers, wedding coordinators, florists and caterers who refer their clients to us for an image consult. I also started the Train the Trainers Workshop in my company. I recognize that an image consultant needs to have good training skills. The workshop is open to anyone in my team interested to be trainers. I usually conduct lecture-type training every 2 months for individual and group consult. I also bring two people with me to watch and aid me in training our corporate clientele who hire us to present seminars on topics such as corporate power dressing, communication and presentation skills for new supervisors, and more. All my trainings are evaluated based on feedback from my team and client satisfaction survey done after the consult. The survey consists of questions about service satisfaction and relevance of the consult. Under my leadership and training expertise, my image consulting team is now known as a trendsetter who is skilled in bringing out the best in our clients. I know my training works because we get more clients and we know from our clients testimonials that we help them feel more confident. The increase in our client base every year is proof that I am doing well with my training program.          References    Forsyth, P. (1999). Everything you need to know about marketing. London: Kogan Page Ltd.