"LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP"!

This comment is so old that I hesitated to dredge it up, but it certainly is an appropriate caution for "Mom & Pop" businesses! Poorly thought out or impulsive decisions are extremely damaging to the 1 - 9 employee business, which I fondly refer to as "Mom & Pop" businesses (the average business size in our industry)

I would like to share a down to earth and sound evaluation process you might want to use as you and your spouse prepare to make some decisions that will be costly, one way or another whether they work or fail. The difference will really be the difference between an out and out expense or a wise investment in your business.

My favorite example is that of purchasing another piece of equipment to get better production out of your employees. In reality, until you truly evaluate the situation, you don't really know whether you need equipment, training or a different employee!

It has been my experience over many years that when small businesses like ours are faced with decisions of this type, they are usually made emotionally and impulsively, then an attempt is made to justify the decision logically...AFTER THE FACT!

I have found it very helpful to use a series of easy to follow thinking guidelines that help you avoid making emotional and expensive decisions in favor of good logical investment type decisions. Following are a series of five guides that I have found to be very useful in directing me along the problem solving process.

First I'll list them for you, and then share a few additional thoughts on each of them for your consideration. I believe these will work exceptionally well for you -- but, you must write everything down, everything!

GUIDE #1 -- Exactly what are the discrepancies between what you expect and what you are presently getting? Write each of them down so that they can be easily understood. Be sure to list each one separately. Also, list which of these concerns are shared by other persons.

GUIDE #2 -- List each problem from guide #1 that you feel can be resolved through training. Write down why you feel that increasing your employees knowledge and ability would reduce discrepancies between what you are now getting and your desired results.

GUIDE #3 -- List your goals for the anticipated training project. Specify what outcome you expect in as much detail as possible. Reduce to writing all the behaviors and attitudes that you want to modify. Be sure to list the real cost of the training you are contemplating.

GUIDE #4 -- List all non training alternative solutions here as well as costs, plus your projected outcome of these alternatives.
   
GUIDE #5 -- Is training an economical and practical option when compared to the alternatives you have listed in guide #4? Are your employees sufficiently motivated to respond positively and economically to a training program?

Some additional thought provoking comments....

RE: guide#1 -- I hope you noticed that I stressed writing everything down. My reason is simply to help you separate your prejudices from the actual problems you face. I might mention to you that if you can't reduce the problems to writing, you really don't understand them well enough to take any type of action yet. More research and perhaps more soul searching is needed.

RE: guide#2 -- Deals with the appropriateness of training. Again writing forces you to think & rethink. You may indeed find that training should work in some areas, but only after you have taken positive steps in other areas of your business.

RE: guide#3 -- Everyone needs to know what is expected of them when they get involved in training. The type of training you select should evolve from the decision making process developed through this exercise. Remember, you must also determine if the training provider can or is willing to work toward your goals before you get involved.

RE: guide#4 -- Non training alternatives are often an option, especially in very small businesses. These are often less expensive, more powerful or preferable.

RE: guide#5 -- Is the investment worth it? This should be and is a tough question and only you can answer it!

I promise you that it is impossible to follow these guides in your efforts to determine if training is your best alternative and not develop a clearer understanding of your business problems. In order to evaluate you are forced to become specific about what is wrong. Frankly, that will often be at least 50% of the solution you are looking for!!!