Heart of Business… Developing Employees
This column was first published in the Reading Eagle on December 3, 2024.
Teaching continues to feed my soul, and for the past 10 years, a lot of that nourishment has come from my affiliation with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance as a trainer. One reason I find training so fulfilling is I get to witness the commitment companies have to develop their employees, not just train them. This is today’s story from the heart of business.
Training v. developing employees
What’s the difference? Seismic, a company that empowers the “customer-facing” part of organizations, describes training as a process that builds “the skills of new employees so they’re well equipped to perform the role that they were hired for. Development… includes ongoing education, mentoring, and professional experiences that help employees grow into future roles and opportunities.”
It starts with the commitment to develop employees, and training becomes one way to advance that growth. Training is essentially teaching, where development is transforming. We train employees in spurts — a class here, a certification there. We develop employees over time, for the good of the company and the employee.
Why and how do companies do this? Here’s what I learned from three Berks-based companies.
Why and how companies develop their people
I spoke with David J. Purcel, operations manager, Berkshire Systems Group Inc.; Tricia Williams, VP of Sales, New Castle Lawn & Landscaping Inc.; and, Debra A. Antol, vice president of human resources, Sweet Street Desserts. Here are my questions and their responses.
• Why is your company committed to developing your employees?
Antol: It’s really woven into our [Sweet Street’s] culture and is a big part of how we operate as a company…We believe that employees who are given opportunities to learn and grow will have greater job satisfaction and commitment. It’s rewarding to see individuals make their way, learn new skills to contribute more, and rise to greater levels of responsibility.
Purcel: Knowledgeable employees are empowered employees who take pride in their work and prioritize excellent customer care. This approach underscores the belief that our people are our strength, empowering them to significantly contribute to BSGI’s success.
Williams: New Castle’s company ethos is rooted around a people first approach…When we truly listen and support the individual, both personally and professionally, and provide opportunities for meaningful, purposeful work, turnover rate stays low, teams are more productive, and company culture and morale benefit.
• What type of training & development activities do you support?
Antol: A wide variety of training programs and educational opportunities are supported. We work closely with the Schmidt Center for Training and Development at RACC for Industrial Maintenance… the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance… the Literacy Council of Berks… There are Pay-for-Skills programs and a tuition reimbursement program.
Purcel: Efforts center on equipping the BSGI team with diverse training opportunities, both online and in-person; a comprehensive three-day orientation for new hires; mentorship with senior staff. Staff members frequently pursue professional certifications, product-specific training, apprenticeships, and internal process and software proficiency, along with leadership development programs, and an innovative initiative, BSGI Academy, an online support platform. Employee achievements are celebrated with salary increases.
Williams: Our leadership team as well as supervisors are all educated on various types of personality profiles like the DISC assessment and The Working Genius… All employees are given time to volunteer for any organization of their choice on the company’s dime. The team is also given multiple opportunities throughout the course of a year to attend seminars, training and events that help promote their personal and professional growth.
• What has been the impact of these efforts? Any examples?
Antol: Seventy-five percent of our current supervisors were promoted from within. Some examples: our employee relations & payroll manager started as a sales assistant in our Café while attending college, who is now a member of the Manufacturer’s Resource Center team and speaks to students about career opportunities; a maintenance supervisor, who started in an entry level position and took on training opportunities we provided, and was promoted to supervisor.
Purcel: Many employees progress within the company, exemplifying paths such as inspection team members transitioning to technicians, technicians advancing to project managers or sales roles, and senior staff ascending to leadership positions. This progression reflects our philosophy of nurturing talent and leadership internally… and has propelled BSGI to new heights, enabling continued growth and reinforcing our reputation as an organization where employees thrive and contribute meaningfully to industry advancements and professional associations.
Williams: Many team members have grown with the company starting as laborers in the field and now holding executive level positions within New Castle. We also have situations [where team members] have expressed interest in different roles that would not be so physically taxing. In these situations, ownership supported the individuals by creating new positions and providing all the support necessary for them to be successful.
People first, pay incentives, partnerships, diverse training in skills and knowledge, developing the whole person. I have trained employees from these companies, they “walk the talk”! What’s your company’s commitment to developing your employees? Does it measure up? If not, you may want to develop.
Have a story from the heart of business? Email: Info@ThePracticalProf.com, and it might be featured in an upcoming column.
Next Column: More Stories from the “Heart” of Business!
Dr. Santo D. Marabella, The Practical Prof, is a professor emeritus of management at Moravian University and hosts the podcast “Office Hours with The Practical Prof … and Friends.” His latest book, “The Lessons of Caring” is written to inspire and support caregivers (available in paperback and eBook). Website: ThePracticalProf.com; Twitter: @PracticalProf; Facebook: ThePracticalProf.
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