By John S. QUAISIE
All employees have a responsibility to learn and improve their knowledge and skills, to help their team make the needed progress, as they journey into the future. Unfortunately, many employees tend to depend totally on the employer when it comes to improving their knowledge and skills.
It is true that the employer must provide in-service training at regular times, to enable all staff update their knowledge and skills.
However, employees who are determined to play their roles well and remain relevant in a progressive enterprise, take the initiative to equip themselves with additional knowledge and improved skills needed to do successful business in today’s fast changing work environment.
- The New Order
In the 1980s, when computer started to make its first entry into workplaces in Africa, some organizations experienced serious challenges in their attempt to re-orient and reposition their workers to embrace a new and more dynamic way of doing business.
This was a time when senior managers would display their laptop computer conspicuously in their offices, without making any effort to learn how to use it for their work.
At a management meeting held in one Non-Governmental Organization in West Africa, the Country Director informed all Senior Managers, Heads of Department and Supervisors that they would be required to learn computer skills and use same to carry out their work in their offices. This also meant that they would be required to use the computer to type documents and process, store and retrieve information. Consequently, a Computer Training Room was set up for the purpose, and managers and supervisors were expected to devote time to learn and practice the new skills.
At the initial stages, the idea that managers should learn to type and use the computer for their official work sounded ridiculous. This is because there were already many typists and stenographer secretaries (professionally trained) who were supporting the top executive officers, managers and supervisors in their daily administrative work.
So, the thought of mangers and supervisors learning to type and use the computer to process their official work seemed funny. Many of the employees thought it would be a ‘nine-day wonder’. As for the secretaries and typists, the scene of managers learning to type looked like a child’s play.
Meanwhile, in the Computer Training Room, the managers struggled with the Mavis Beacon – a popular typing software application which teaches learners how to type professionally on the computer.
As time elapsed, some of the secretaries and typists, seeing the relentless effort of their managers, began to reflect on the whole idea. If their managers succeeded in their attempt to type and process their own documents, what would happen to them – with all their training and administrative skills?
A few of the secretaries and typists began to take a serious view of the situation and decided to learn the computer skills privately, to update their secretarial profile.
- The Impact
About a year later, the Country Office communicated an important policy direction from the corporate headquarters in the USA. According to the new policy, all managers and supervisors were to use the computer to process their official work. Consequently, the employment of all the typists and most of the stenographer secretaries would be terminated. In the end, only a handful of secretaries – being those who had the computer skills – remained in the organization.
A few days after the official communication, a typist, who had been given notice of termination of employment, entered the office of the Human Resource Manager (HRD). With tears in the eyes, the employee exclaimed,
“Now I know my enemies in this organization”
This employee and some other staff members had it all wrong. They had failed to understand that the changing times called for employees who were prepared to take the initiative to update their knowledge and skills and make themselves relevant enough to travel along with a progressive team.
- Taking The Initiative
Some years ago, a young man called Alex, was employed as Office Clerk (messenger) by an organization. He approached his work with all seriousness. While he was executing his normal job responsibilities, he also became interested in the work of Information Technology (IT) Specialists in the organization. Consequently, he began to visit the IT Department and interact with the IT Specialists. In his spare time, he would spend time with them and learn the computer skills – both software and hardware.
In a space of about two years, Alex had learnt the basic skills related to the information technology job position. Soon, he was promoted to the position of Information Technology Assistant, to fill a vacant position. The effort and determination of the Office Clerk, had repositioned him at a higher level of job responsibility.
Alex had taken a personal initiative, motivated himself, and worked hard to change his status in the organization. With his newly acquired skills, he was ready to travel along with a progressive team.
Employees, like Alex, who understand the challenges of the changing times, take on the responsibility of equipping themselves and updating their personal profile to remain relevant in a progressive team.
John is a HR/Management Practitioner
Phone/WhatsApp No. 0244599628
E-Mail: [email protected]
