Training is currently an indispensable process for every business, and no individual can argue the obvious benefits that businesses can realize from it. We could question the reason for investing in training our active employees when we have the possibility of hiring other workers that already have the necessary abilities. The clearest and most blatant counter to this idea is that the cost of hiring new employees is a lot higher than the cost of training the active workforce. So,in this situation, what would you do now?
Training may be considered to be a major investment in the beginning, but the variety of benefits it delivers to the company is incredible. To stay competitive, and for sustained growth in our ever-changing market, a business needs to keep its workforce trained and highly motivated. Such essential employees are considered to be important assets - playing crucial roles in the long term success of businesses everywhere.
Let's have a look at the benefits that come from training the workforce:
1. Increase Productivity - Effective training will eventually result in an increase in the productivity of the staff in any business. Trained employees can utilise new techniques and systems when dealing with their day-to-day work, thereby enhancing their accuracy and efficiency. Increased accuracy and efficiency will - by definition, automatically increase the overall productivity of all business operations.
2. Increase Morale of Employees - Training boosts the attitude and morale of the staff. Training will, over time, minimise the reluctance of employees towards future changes in the organization. People will form a positive attitude towards training if they can clearly see its relevance and the benefits it brings.
3. Decrease Staff Turnover - It has been observed that trained and motivated employees are the ones that serve a business for a longer period of time - as compared to others. As a trained employee is content with his job, he is far more able to coordinate his ambitions with those of the company.
4. Workforce Flexibility - Training aims at developing different sets of specific skills in employees with the goal of making them more flexible, so that they can be engaged in a wider variety of activities. The idea is not only to make the workforce effective and efficient, but also to make it multi-tasking or specialist in nature.
5. Decrease Costs - Does it really? Yes, training can definitely lead to a decrease in various business costs. Training saves money through limiting waste - whether in time or material, limiting the supervision expense and reducing the number of workplace accidents. Trained employees can perform diversified sets of activities single-handedly.
So, regardless of what kind of business you're in, the number of staff you manage, or the scope of your business - Train to Gain!
Copyright (c) 2009 Alan Gillies
Cross Training For Running
That was not always the case. Back in 1972, Frank Shorter proved he was the best marathoner in the world when he won the Olympic gold medal. Although I remember reading stories about how Frank liked to cross country ski during the winter, I doubt he did anything except run in the months leading up to the Olympics.
Cross training, as defined by exercise expert Bryant Stamford, PhD, is the performance of two or more types of exercise in one workout or alternately in successive workouts. For example, distance runners may finish their workout with some weight training, or they may give their running muscles a rest and substitute cycling or swimming 2 or 3 days a week.
There are many variables to consider when selecting cross training activities. What are your fitness goals? Do you have any physical deficiencies or weaknesses? What do you like to do? How old are you? If your goal is to lose body fat, then your priority should be endurance training with 2-3 weight-training sessions per week. I cannot say for sure that you will lose weight faster, but 2 or 3 different types of cardiovascular exercises might be better than sticking with just 1.
If you want to improve your running speed, then I would recommend cross training exercises that work some of the same muscles as running such as cycling or stair climbing. If you are over 40 years of age, you have probably lost some muscle strength and mass, translating to slower acceleration and speed. Working on strength training and regular stretching can help. If you are just interested in staying in shape, you may be able to avoid burnout by changing workouts.
In recent years triathlons have been increasingly popular. Triathletes seem to enjoy the challenge of preparing for 3 very different activities; swimming, running, and cycling. Although not perfect, triathlon training probably offers the best example of a balanced fitness program. Swimming gives you a good upper body workout, running develops leg muscle endurance, and cycling adds muscular power in the legs with a blend of endurance. All 3 are effective cardiovascular exercises.
Cross training may be counterproductive if you fatigue the same muscles on consecutive days. Swimming might be a better alternative than a bike ride before or after a hard running session. If you are a runner, bike interval or hill training offers a refreshing break from the pounding of run intervals.
One of the great benefits of cross training is that it offers a means to stay in shape while recovering from injury. Remember when complete rest used to be the prescription for any and all injuries? Today we know that deconditioning can and should be minimized through cross training.
Whatever your fitness goal might be, it is safe to say that well-rounded strength and endurance training of the lower body, upper body, and trunk is the ticket to better performance and injury prevention.
Both Alan Gillies & Dave Elger are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alan Gillies has sinced written about articles on various topics from About Branding, Fitness and Marketing and Communications. Alan Gillies is the Managing Director of the L2L Group. He specialises in delivering Executive Coaching, Training and Consultancy Services to International Businesses across the World. Want to find out more about these comprehensive business success strat. Alan Gillies's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Dave Elger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Food and Drink and Puppies Dogs. Dave Elger is a well respected health and fitness authority now working for the Wasatch Altitude Training Center in Mountain Green, Utah. For more information go to www.daveelger.blogspot.com or. Dave Elger's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Cooling Down After Exercise They may devise a fitness program and diet appropriate for the health needs of an individual