#WorkReady Pilot Program ‘Essential Skills: Train the Trainers’ Teaches Managers the Value of Leadership
The most pressing issue facing employers today is the challenge of finding and keeping qualified talent. This is a common concern among Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce members and industry partners. Across industry sectors, communication and critical thinking skills are essential competencies of a successful workforce in existing jobs and will only become more critical in this new world of work. The need for these essential skills has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a workforce skills assessment published in the 2022 Oregon Talent Assessment by ECONorthwest, most employers expressed that soft or interpersonal skills were among the skills most lacking in existing staff.
To address these challenges in the local workforce, the Chamber conducted a formal survey of their 750 members in the fall of 2022. The consensus was that nearly all industries felt there was a need for essential skills training in their organizations. The Chamber formed a group of business stakeholders to advise Cascade Employers Association in developing a curriculum designed to help managers learn how to cultivate essential skills in their teams. From there, they customized a three-half-day WorkReady Essential Skills: Train the Trainers workshop tailored to meet the needs of their members. Thanks to a grant from Lane Workforce Partnership, they were able to offer this pilot training program at no cost to members. Within just a few weeks of announcing the workshop, 40 people representing 22 different companies and organizations signed up, filling all the slots available.
The 12-hour workshop turned out to be a great success. The information presented was packed with managerial-level training designed to integrate essential skills learning into an organization’s hiring, onboarding, and professional development processes. Many participants agreed that the personality, communication, and team performance training module brought a deeper sense of self-awareness of their own leadership style, and how to increase effective communication within their teams. As one mid-level manager in the retail industry identified, “The Five Voices [assessment] gave us the tools to understand our own leadership style and how to recognize the value each of our team members bring to the table.”
“This was hands-down the best training I have attended in a long time. If you have the opportunity to send members of your team, I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.”
– “Train the Trainers” attendee, in the Hospitality and Tourism sector
Other takeaways from the training include learning strategies for improving processes, developing training materials, and promoting healthy conflict in the workplace. Participants expressed how they plan to implement these takeaways at their respective organizations within the next six months.
“We are thrilled with the feedback we’ve received for our Essential Skills: Train the Trainer pilot program,” said Paige Walters, Director of Business Development and Partnerships for the Chamber. “It’s gratifying to know we have provided something valuable to local businesses. We look forward to offering this training program in the future.”
About #WorkReady
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s #WorkReady initiative is a collaborative effort led by business and economic development leaders in Springfield, aimed at revitalizing the local economy, enhancing career-based learning opportunities, and cultivating a well-trained workforce. The initiative aims to achieve these goals through targeted investments and collaborative partnerships that create a strong workforce development system, contributing to business growth, talent attraction, and retention. #WorkReady is committed to building a robust education and workforce development ecosystem, recognizing its significance in driving economic prosperity.
