RECRUITMENT

COMMENTARY
The 3 Cs - communication, capability and confidence
SUCCESS KEYS
By Hardeep Girn
Managing Director Know My Business
SEPTEMBER’S Greater Western Sydney
Regional Roundtable was recently held at
the St Leonards campus of the Northern
Sydney Institute (NSI) Part of TAFE
NSW.
This round table was the first to be held
outside of Western Sydney with most of those
participating from other areas of Sydney and
the Central Coast.
Members of the round table were from
across a number of industries, including
education, human resources, recruitment
and training, with the theme being The Future
Employer.
One of the key areas of discussion was of
training, especially beyond the immediate
skills needed to be able to do a job.
Adjunct Professor Dr. Jim Taggart probed
the panelists on whether the responsibility
on training rested on the employee or the
employer.
Alison Wood, Institute Director for NSI,
pointed out there was also the Government’s
role in making the Australian work force competitive
in the Global Village.
The round table gave considerable insights
into how the demand for better-trained staff
required commitment in allocating training
budgets.
By providing more training opportunities,
studies have shown increases in job satisfaction
and staff retention.
Further discussion followed at the macro
level, on the impact of foreign students and
overseas workers competing for Australian jobs.
Access to information and education has
been become easier for many societies, including
those in Australia.
The round table discussed the real need
to devote more corporate funding to putting
emphasis on keeping the workforce skilled
and relevant in changing industries.
It was argued, to gain the competitive advantage
with highly skilled staff and attracting
the best talent, training needed to go beyond
core skills.
During the discussion, each panelist was
asked what he or she saw as core skills employers
expect employees to have.
The pre-requisite in any role in business
are the 3 C’s, namely Communication, Capability
and Confidence.
During 2014, we saw a significant deficiency
in the ability of staff and owners of
businesses having strong levels of these core
skills. Maybe part of this has been due to the
slow down in society using face-to-face or
phone conversation to gain outcomes.
We’re currently in the Ocean of Online,
where growing emphasis is placed on social
media and other digital channels to interact
with prospects, referrals and suppliers.
Sigman research undertaken in 2009
pointed out we started spending more time
interacting with digital electronic devices than
in human face-to-face interaction in 1997.
And using this research, McCrindle Research
has commentated on the considerable
gap that has continued to grow since that time.
Back at the round table, I talked about
these soft skills being the competitive advantage
that most businesses needed.
Technical skills today are far more commoditised,
and overseas markets are building the
knowledge as well as continuing to leverage their
lower cost of labour and economies of scale.
WWW.WSBA.COM.AU
To remain competitive, we need a clear
point of difference.
So, as part of the need to stay ahead in an
increasingly competitive environment, Know
My Business has developed the Mastering
Business Introductions short course in collaboration
with the Northern Sydney Institute Part
of TAFE NSW.
Both organisations share a common vision
to help people and businesses unlock their
career or business potential.
Today, collaboration is the key to success
and together we can deliver meaningful learning
experiences, which will enhance the way
you do business in an unpredictable business
environment.
The Mastering Business Introductions
course is relevant for front line staff and senior
managers that engage with prospects, referrals
partners and suppliers. Held monthly, the
course will be delivered during a half-day
classroom setting at the St Leonards campus
of the Northern Sydney Institute. Concepts
that will be taught include how to:
• Understand the purpose and apply
the concept of ‘value proposition’
• Gain confidence through an improved
ability to have meaningful
conversations
• Be better prepared with introductions
and meetings through upfront
research
• Learn how to establish trust in relationships
through conversation
• Understand the impact of tone of
voice
• Understand and identify critical roles
in business conversations
• Learn how to make effective business
introductions.
To register for the course or more information
you can visit www.knowmybusiness.com.au/training
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WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS SEPTEMBER 2015
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