IT professionals have become more important than ever in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape. These professionals safeguard an organization’s Cloud Services and IT infrastructure from cybersecurity threats to system upgrades. To keep up with the momentum and innovation taking place, they also need to be adequately trained and up to date with the latest developments.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review summed it up well, “An organization’s ability to adapt to an even more digital future depends on developing the next generation of skills, closing the gap between talent supply and demand, and future-proofing their own and others’ potential.” As management’s time is consumed in day-to-day functions, they may not realize there are skills gaps until efficiencies start to slip. An initiative-taking approach to training is key, and that’s where effective communication comes in. IT professionals need to be able to articulate their IT skills training needs to their managers, whether it be in cloud computing, network virtualization, security, or end-user computing, among others. By doing this, they will get the support and resources they need.
Make the case for training
First, IT professionals must effectively communicate the value of IT skills training. Investing in employees’ knowledge and competencies is a long-term commitment, which will help them build the skills they need for today’s information technology environment. Show how training increases productivity, streamlines processes, and can potentially make your company’s information safer to prove the return on investment (ROI). Additionally, training keeps staff up to date on the latest practices and can help reduce IT support costs and increase customer satisfaction.
Show statistics on the benefits of incorporating enhanced skills into your department based on industry best practices. You can use this data to show the impact of implementing change and the positive results you can get. By using this information, you can make a convincing case for why new skills are needed. In addition, if compelling enough, you can also help secure future budgets and resources.
Align training with organization goals
The best way to get managers’ support for your training plan is to align it with your organization’s goals. IT professionals can help managers understand the value of investing in their professional development by showing how the proposed training will contribute to those goals. By doing this, managers will understand how valuable the training plan is and will be more likely to support it.
There is growing data showing the shift in perception from management and recognizing the need for ongoing IT skills development and programs. According to a recent Exit Certified report, 23.8% of IT leaders stated that lack of skilled staff is the dominant factor hindering digital transformation.
IT professionals should also supply metrics showing the return on investment of their training plans. You can also show potential risks of not investing in training, such as reduced efficiency if skill development is not addressed. By doing this, you can further emphasize how important the training is and make the case for its value even better.
Focus on the competitive advantage
Organizations strive to stay ahead of the curve in today’s competitive business environment. Emphasize how the training will help IT professionals gain innovative skills and knowledge, so they’ll be a valuable asset to the company. This helps managers realize how important it is to invest in training to stay competitive. As a result, IT professionals can stay on top of the latest technology and trends, giving the company an edge. Staying competitive in business requires investing in training.
IT training has these advantages for companies:
- Improved productivity
- Enhanced innovation and creativity
- Reduced dependency on external IT support
- Attraction and retention of top talent
- Streamlined business operations.
- Adaptability to technological advancements
High-performance individuals who focus on how the business will look in the future are always in demand by organizations. Your planning should be focused on staying nimble and adapting to technological change. There are two certifications in these areas to consider: Spring Certified Professional 2023 and VCP-Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations 2023. These are great options for ensuring a future-focused set of skills for cloud-native projects today and in the future.
Understand and articulate the Cost-Benefit Analysis
The overall cost of training programs may seem expensive to your manager at first, but they are very cost-effective overall. According to LinkedIn, 94% of employees surveyed say that they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development. Investing in employee training can increase productivity, morale, and job satisfaction. It can also reduce employee turnover, resulting in decreased recruitment and training costs.
By coming prepared, you can overcome this objection. IT professionals can do a cost-benefit analysis to prove the benefits. To make a convincing case for investing in training, they should point out how it can save the company money by increasing efficiency, reducing downtime, and improving troubleshooting skills. This can lead to a more productive team, improved customer service, and higher profits. Your analysis should highlight training not as an expense, but as an investment that pays dividends overall.
Offer alternatives and options
Managers might be hesitant to approve a specific training plan due to budget constraints. If that’s the case, IT professionals might consider digital training options, webinars, or workshops that offer similar benefits at a lower cost. Additionally, these types of training can be completed in shorter periods, allowing employees to start using their newly acquired skills sooner.
IT professionals should also come to the meeting with added cost-saving measure ideas such as sharing training costs with other organizations, utilizing internal resources, or using open-source training materials. Being prepared with a Plan B will highlight to your manager that you are willing to collaborate with them on ideas that can help reduce training costs while still getting you the skills you need.
Start your learning journey today!
The process of approaching your manager can seem awkward, but if you are prepared, it shouldn’t be. List not only how the training will help your manager, but also how it will affect other areas of the company. In the upcoming IT projects, you may discover that you can bring best practices to your team that will improve team morale, performance, and efficiency.
Need help in starting the conversation with your manager? View a sample letter to your boss to get you started today!
Ready to start looking for upcoming training options? Download our VMware Learning Catalog.
