Professional training vital for corporate success - Sipcom-1 Director

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Every employee should be given a minimum 40-hour training per annum to develop competency and proper attitudes to face challenges in a competitive market environment. The increasing global trend is for employees to be given continuous professional development to be effective and efficient workers, said Director, Sipcom-1 Dhammika Kalapuge.

Kalapuge said the purpose of training employees is to enhance knowledge, competency and attune one's mind to the changing environment. With inventions and innovations there is a rapid global transformation to which employees need to keep pace with. If not there would be inefficiency and lapses in professionalism.

It is believed that innovation takes place around the globe every one-and a-half minutes. The business world has to keep pace with changes and innovations if it is to develop into full stature. Corporate success is achieved only through employees who possess knowledge, competency and skills.

Formal education needs to produce academics who possess practical knowledge to face real life situations. Today the country's education does not adequately serve this purpose.

The policymakers of the country should focus on an educational system that is formative rather than informative. Mere academic knowledge will not produce the calibre of people a country requires. It is a well groomed student who would shine in society, Kalapuge said.

Positive thinking is vital to face challenges and real life scenarios. According to research over 75 percent of the people begin the day with a negative thought or feeling which has an implication on the behaviour during the day.

According to human psychology the thoughts and feelings that preoccupy one's mind during the first 30 minutes after he or she begins the day has an influence on the rest of the day. Positive thoughts transform into positive actions which give better results. Therefore, it is necessary that employees inculcate positive thinking to be productive.

He said Dr. Norman Vicent Peale in his book 'Positive thinking' stresses the need to have faith in oneself to achieve his goals in life. Employees need to have a positive outlook in life to improve his personality and profession.

An attitude that the more we know the more we do not know is essential for growth. The Russian writer Maxim Gorke towards the end of his life said "I know only one thing that is I do not know anything about my life". It is only an open mind to learn that will make a person successful, Kalapuge said.

Training is only one mechanism to change the attitude of an employee. Compensation, recognition, empowerment, resources' targets and directions are important factors to bring out the best in an employee.

The role of the trainer is to inspire the candidate to perform better. It is imperative that the trainer delivers the message with conviction. Good training is more an investment to a company than an expense. A well-trained workforce is an asset to the country for its development, Kalapuge said.