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The Monthly Mentor™: Engage, Connect, & Retain Top Talent

  • Writer's pictureTaresa Scott, M.S.Ed., M.A.C. of Bleuprint

The Skills Gap Trap: How WidgetCorp (and Your Company) Can Avoid It

This e-learning newsletter is here to add some spice to your professional development journey. Get ready for a fun-filled ride of valuable insights where we serve up bite-sized nuggets of knowledge to satisfy your brain cravings! So buckle up and get ready to feast on the latest and greatest in e-learning trends, tips, and tricks. Be sure to follow and subscribe for more!


 

At WidgetCorp, a once-agile startup now struggling with rapid growth, the winds of change were on the horizon. Recognizing a skills gap hindering efficiency, management declared the need for a training department.


But in a classic case of misplaced priorities, they opted to forgo external hires, instead "promoting” Maya, a customer service pro known for her patience and cheery demeanor. Maya, ecstatic at first, soon found herself drowning in a sea of uncertainty.


Equipped with a dusty whiteboard and a stack of outdated manuals, Maya was tasked with creating training programs for the entire company – onboarding new hires, reskilling veterans for the digital age, and upskilling everyone on the latest customer service techniques.


WidgetCorp, in its haste, hadn't equipped her with the essentials. No budget for industry-standard authoring tools, no access to a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver courses, and worst of all, no mentorship from experienced trainers.


The scope of work itself was overwhelming. Researching best practices took hours stolen from her regular duties. Building engaging curriculum felt like writing movie scripts with one hand tied behind her back.


Frustration simmered. Professionals, hungry for knowledge, were left with lukewarm presentations and outdated methods. Maya, overworked and unsupported, saw her once-infectious positivity dwindle. New hires, desperately needing onboarding, felt lost in the shuffle. The skills gap, instead of closing, widened.


This, unfortunately, isn't a rare occurrence. Many companies, with good intentions, create training departments without the crucial resources and support. Learning and Development (L&D) is a complex field. Building effective programs requires expertise in adult learning theory, instructional design, and access to the latest tools and technology.


Imagine a movie director without a camera, actors, or a script. That's essentially what Maya, and many others in similar situations, face. It's a recipe for disaster.


Here's the reality: Successful L&D programs are built on a foundation of support. Leaders who recognize the need for employee development don't have to go it alone. There are L&D experts ready to help you strategize, source the right tools, and create training programs that truly empower your workforce.


Feeling overwhelmed? Don't let your training program become a WidgetCorp flop. I'm here to help. Schedule a video Q&A session, and let's strategize together.


You can learn how 've helped organizations create successful employee development programs.

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