Author: Tori Grant Welhouse

Maximizing Business Success Through Customized Training: A Leader’s Guide

Customized training can be invaluable for your business and employees, offering tailored solutions that directly address your unique challenges. It’s normal to be concerned about a potential collaborator’s expertise or whether the training will align with your business goals. However, customized training is a game-changer. Here are the Top 5 reasons to use a forward-thinking, customized training approach.

#1: Content is Specifically Tailored to Your Business

Customized training meets the unique objectives of your business, ensuring that the content is highly relevant to your employees. This tailored approach addresses the specific challenges your team faces regularly, making the training practical and immediately applicable. By focusing on your business’s distinct needs, customized training enhances employee engagement and effectiveness.

Video: Bellin Health collaborates with UW-Green Bay

#2: Enhances the Skill Development of Your Employees

Expert training targets specific skill gaps within your business, ensuring that your team develops the competencies needed to excel. By addressing these gaps, customized training leads to improved performance and productivity. This focused approach empowers your employees to rise to new challenges and contribute more effectively to your business’s success.

#3: Increases Employee Engagement

Customized training aligns with your business goals by addressing real-work scenarios and problems, making the learning experience highly relevant. This practical approach not only engages employees but also contributes to higher retention rates. In fact, job-related training and development influence 70% of employees in determining whether or not they stay with their company. (Source: AccessPerks) When employees see the direct impact of their training on their daily tasks, they feel more invested in their roles and the success of the business.

#4: Customized Training is Flexible and Adaptable

Customized training is flexible and adaptable, allowing for real-time updates and modifications to keep pace with industry changes. Utilizing the faculty and staff expertise available through UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Workforce Training program and the breadth of the university’s knowledge, ensures that your employees are equipped with the latest information and skills needed to thrive in a dynamic business environment. By staying current, your team can confidently tackle new challenges and drive your business forward.

#5: Strategic Competitive Advantage

Customized training provides your employees with unique skills and knowledge that set them apart from competitors. This specialized expertise not only enhances retention but also gives your business a significant edge in a competitive market. By investing in tailored training, you empower your team to excel and drive your business towards sustained success.
Customized training offers a higher return on investment due to increased engagement, productivity and employee satisfaction. By tailoring the content to your business’s unique needs, addressing specific skill gaps and providing flexible, up-to-date training, you empower your team to excel. This approach not only enhances your competitive advantage but also ensures that your employees are equipped to meet the challenges of a dynamic business environment. Investing in customized training from UW-Green Bay’s Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training is a forward-thinking strategy that drives long-term success.

Partnering for Custom Training Solutions

At UW-Green Bay, the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training can enhance your business results and culture through an ongoing partnership, offering a community of expert instructors dedicated to supporting your team. Our customized training solutions adapt and grow with your company’s evolving needs.

* This post was created with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot.

The Future of Education Stacks Up

The working world spins faster and faster, and the skills and needs of industries evolve constantly. On average, an American worker will change careers three to seven times and have up to twelve jobs over their working life.

New learning solutions such as stackable credentials have emerged to keep up with the changes.

The U.S. Department of Labor defines “stackable credentials” as a “sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help that individual move along a career pathway to further education and different responsibilities, and potentially higher-paying jobs.” Learners progress along a structured pathway in key industries or disciplines to earn certificates, which they can stack vertically or horizontally like building blocks to the future and their career aspirations.

Vertical stacking occurs when an individual earns a certificate that leads to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Horizontal stacking takes place when an individual earns two short-term credit or noncredit certificates within a specified time frame (typically between several months and a year of coursework and training to complete).

Stackable credentials offer many advantages to today’s learners. Learners may:

  • Affordably explore new career or industry opportunities while earning a valuable credential.
  • Fill in knowledge gaps by staying current with the latest technologies and trends.
  • Benefit from an intentional curriculum with direct relevance to the workplace.

The promise of stackable credentials also has wider sociological impacts. According to a 2023 study by RAND, low-income certificate-earners were more likely to stack credentials than were middle- or high-income certificate-earners, which means the availability of stackable credentials or certificate programs improves access to education.

In addition, low-income certificate-earners who stacked vertically were more likely to advance to a middle-income wage than non-stacking low-income certificate-earners. Stackable credentials can contribute to the goal of upward mobility, especially for learners who find the traditional route to postsecondary education out of reach.

Employers can leverage stackable credentials during individualized employee conversations about their career goals. Survey data from the 2023 State of the Workforce Engagement Trends by Workforce Science Associates points to the need for employees to “see a clear path to realize their career goals.” Aligning workplace competencies with certificate programs may be a positive and achievable way for employers to develop and promote from within.

The value of training for employees and employers is unassailable with Indeed identifying a cascade of benefits, including increased productivity and performance, improved knowledge of policies and goals, enhanced customer valuation, better workplace environment and boosted morale.

Successful examples of stackable credentials range across industries and are particularly prevalent in healthcare, manufacturing, business and management and engineering technology.

UW-Green Bay embraces stackable credentials by creating certificate programs encompassing undergraduate credit, graduate credit and noncredit, in categories such as business, education, government, nonprofit, health and human services, leadership, workforce, science and engineering, specialist interest, sustainability, talent and recruitment.

The university understands that education must be adaptable, offering agile learning solutions that meet industry and employees ready for the many career turns they may face.

Sources:
U.S. Department of Labor https://www.dol.gov/

“Do Low-Income Students Benefit from Stacking Credentials?” RAND, April 13, 2023. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RBA2484-2.html

“2023 State of the Workforce Engagement Trends,” SHRM, offered by Workforce Science Associates (WSA), https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/white-papers/wsa-2023-state-of-the-workforce-engagement-trends

A Focus on Mental Health & Well-Being

There is a growing focus on mental health and well-being in today’s workplaces as leaders recognize its importance to employee resilience, retention and engagement. You can advocate within your organization for mental health friendly policies and awareness training for managers and supervisors. But you can also take steps to protect your own mental health by creating time to unplug and relax. Maybe by getting out in nature. Maybe by socializing with friends. Or maybe by utilizing an app for therapy or mindfulness. Here are some highly-rated apps to help you protect your mental health and well-being as we head into the holidays next week.

1. BetterHelp
Type: Online Therapy
Features: Offers video, audio, and chat therapy with licensed professionals. Flexible scheduling and unlimited messaging are available.
Cost: Approximately $70-$100 per week.

2. Talkspace
Type: Online Therapy
Features: Provides individual, couples, and teen therapy. Accepts insurance and offers virtual psychiatry.
Cost: $69-$109 per week for therapy.

3. Headspace
Type: Mindfulness and Meditation
Features: Offers guided meditations, sleep aids, and mindfulness exercises tailored to various topics like stress and anxiety.
Cost: $12.99/month or $94.99/year.

4. Calm
Type: Relaxation and Sleep
Features: Includes sleep stories, meditation sessions, and masterclasses on various wellness topics.
Cost: $12.99/month or $59.99/year.

5. Insight Timer
Type: Meditation
Features: A free app with thousands of guided meditations and a meditation timer for self-guided sessions.
Cost: Free, with optional premium features.

6. Worry Watch
Type: Anxiety Management
Features: Helps users track their worries and provides insights into patterns and triggers.
Cost: Free.

7. MoodKit
Type: Mood Tracking
Features: Offers tools for tracking mood, engaging in activities, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.
Cost: One-time purchase of around $4.993.

8. 7 Cups
Type: Emotional Support
Features: Provides free, anonymous chat with trained listeners and licensed therapists.
Cost: Free for chat support; therapy sessions are paid.

Research for this blog post has been aided by Microsoft Co-Pilot.

Upskilling, Reskilling & New-Skilling

As the pace of change continues to escalate, one of the hottest workplace training trends right now is upskilling, reskilling and new-skilling. But what do each of these concepts mean?

Upskilling involves enhancing an employee’s existing skills to help them advance in their current role or field. This can include learning new technologies, improving soft skills or gaining advanced knowledge in a specific area. The goal is to keep employees competitive and prepared for future challenges within their current career path.

Reskilling, on the other hand, involves training employees in new skills so they can transition to different roles within the organization. This is particularly useful when certain job roles become obsolete or when the company needs to pivot to new business areas.

New-skilling is an emerging concept that focuses on a continuous learning mindset, enabling organizations and employees to stay agile and adaptable in the face of evolving challenges. Unlike upskilling and reskilling, which are often targeted at specific skills or roles, new-skilling emphasizes a broader, ongoing approach to learning and development.

The Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training at UW-Green Bay is committed to upskilling, reskill and new-skilling with a goal of providing practical, locally-focused education that responds to the specific career and workforce needs.

This post was written with research assistance from Microsoft Co-pilot and Indeed.

How to Be Happy at Work

Most of us spend at least eight hours a day at work, so why not be happy? The key to being happy at work is developing a combination of personal strategy with taking advantage of available resources.

We offer three quick tips:

  • Set clear goals for yourself: Having clear, achievable goals
    can provide a sense of purpose and direction in your work.
    Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to
    make progress more visible and rewarding (Symonds Research).
  • Seek Feedback and Growth Opportunities: Regularly seek
    feedback from colleagues and supervisors to understand areas of improvement and recognize your strengths. Engage in professional development opportunities to advance your skills and career (Valamis).
  • Build Positive Relationships: Cultivate positive relationships
    with your colleagues. Strong workplace friendships can provide support, increase job satisfaction, and create a more enjoyable work environment (Thirst).

Engage Your Workforce by Engaging Your Managers First

According to Gallup’s 2024 Report State of the Global Workforce there is a connection between manager and employee engagement. Yet Gallup found that only 3 in 10 managers globally are engaged—feel involved and enthusiastic—in their jobs. Highly engaged managers have more engaged teams. Are your managers engaged?

Gallup suggests businesses learn how to better select and develop managers with the talents and skills to effectively coach in the new and changing workplace.

Opportunity for Growth Starts with You

In today’s dynamic workforce landscape, professional development has become a vital tool for organizations to stay competitive and ensure employee retention and growth. However, the success of these programs doesn’t solely rely on their design or the expertise of trainers; the participant’s willingness to learn can play a pivotal role in their effectiveness. It’s the individuals’ enthusiasm, engagement, and proactive approach that turn training into a transformative experience.

Working in the training and development industry, it can be interesting to see how people find their way into professional development opportunities. There are those who are motivated intrinsically, looking to expand their knowledge and skills for their own benefit. And then there are those extrinsically motivated, looking for a raise, a promotion, or more prestige from their employer or colleagues. People will come by their own choice, by recommendation, or required by their organization. Sometimes they come alone, others with their team, or as a group representing an organization. People from all walks of life may find their way into professional development opportunities, but there is one thing they all have in common: the opportunity to grow from the experience lies within each of them.

You might find yourself intrinsically or extrinsically motivated, or maybe both, but you hold the key. Whether it is seeking personal growth, a promotion, or representing an organization that wants to stay on top of their industry, a willingness to learn is the driving force behind finding success. And so, seize the opportunities before you, or find the means to show others the opportunities that could propel them towards their own goals and aspirations.

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UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Workforce Training Division is continuously looking for ways to stay on the cutting edge of professional development for its clients. Be sure to check out the continuing education website, and reach out if you have ideas for new content you want to see! https://www.uwgb.edu/continuing-education/

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Writing/Research Credit: Christopher Ledvina, UW-Green Bay Business Development Specialist

Social Media for Professional Development

Social media often gets a bad reputation for being a place filled with unnecessary or unhealthy communication. However, social media can also provide opportunities for connections across great distances and allow for the exchange of ideas from people of all walks of life and cultures. Today I want to share just a few ideas for what you can do to make new connections or find more content to build your professional social media skills up!

    1. #Hashtags – Searching for a certain phrase using a hashtag, such as #communicationskills or #servantleadership, is a great way to find content and people who are interested in those topics! In some cases, you can even follow certain hashtags to have content brought directly to your social media page, which makes the content more personalized but allows you to see a more diverse group of people’s posts.
    2. Association of… – By searching for “Association of…” followed by the topic you are interested in you could be introduced to a number of groups and organizations that are doing amazing things in your area of interest, but may not be in your region or even county! This could be a great way to get new ideas or new perspectives, and it works for all sorts of phrases such as “Organization of…”, “Club for…”, etc.
    3. Don’t be afraid to comment – Once you find a page, group, or organization that you are interested in, don’t be afraid to comment on their posts! This shows others in the community that you are interested, which can lead to additional connections. It also can boost the number of posts that you see on your page about the topics you enjoy.

Social media provides an exceptional way to connect with new people, new ideas, and new places in professional development. Take some time to look at how you are interacting with your social media pages and learn how you can expand your learning environment!

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UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Community Engagement Division is continuously looking for ways to stay on the cutting edge of professional development for its clients. Be sure to check out the CECE website below, and reach out if you have ideas for new content you want to see! https://www.uwgb.edu/continuing-education/

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Writing/Research Credit: Christopher Ledvina, UW-Green Bay Business Development Specialist

Goal Setting Strategies for Anytime!

As much as I hate to say it, summer is going to come to a close soon. For many people that means a return to school, less time with the family and more time in the office, but it doesn’t have to include a lack of planning! Goal setting shouldn’t be a yearly process meant for New Year’s resolutions, or annual strategic planning sessions. Having a good process for goal setting can be used anytime, whether you are revisiting once a year, month, or whenever makes sense. Here are a few strategies you can use to start creating goals that you can count on:

    1. SMART Goals have received a ton of attention, and for good reason! The process of creating a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART) leads to a great foundation of information for you to create action steps from. There are tons of websites and free resources dedicated to creating SMART goals as well, including this great article on MindTools.com
    2. A similar process to SMART goals is the PACT method. The acronym stands for Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable and is great for long-term personal goals. For more information about the PACT method, check out this article from the National Society of Leadership and Success.
    3. A final alternative goal setting method is the “5 W’s” technique. This process requires you to start with a simple idea of your goal, then asking yourself a series of questions based on the five W questions: Who, What, Where, When and Why. Answering questions based on these ideas can do wonders to solidify how you will approach your goals in the future. This article from LinkedIn does a great job of explaining questions you can ask yourself to get started!

There isn’t one goal setting process that’s better than another, it all depends on your goals and what makes the most sense for you. However, taking the time to set your goals, and planning for reflection and revision, goes a long way towards accomplishing them!

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UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Community Engagement Division (CECE) is always looking for ways to stay on the cutting edge of professional development for our clients. Be sure to check out the CECE website below, and reach out if you have ideas for new content you want to see! https://www.uwgb.edu/continuing-education/

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Ways to Effectively Set and Achieve Your Goals

Writing/Research Credit: Christopher Ledvina, UW-Green Bay Business Development Specialist

Ending is the New Beginning: How to End Gracefully

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, over 7.5 million Americans will be graduating from high school or with a post-secondary degree this year. That is 7.5 million Americans transitioning into the next step in their personal and professional lives! And that’s just in a formal educational setting. The end of one journey can be just as confusing and challenging as beginning a new one, but hopefully with some thoughtful actions the process becomes one of enthusiasm and not anxiety. Here are some thoughts on graceful endings.

    1. Take a deep breath, you’ve earned it! Relax for a moment and reflect on what you have accomplished without having to consider next steps. At this moment you have reached a peak, and that’s worth recognizing.
    2. Take stock in the current you. Let’s flip the classic interview question and change it to, “Where did you see yourself five years ago?” How did you define yourself when the journey began, and what has changed?
    3. Take-Aways. Now that you’ve reached this ending, what are you taking with you? Whether it’s physical, emotional or intellectual, you’ve got a whole new set of tools and experiences for the next step.

Every year millions of people find themselves at the end of one journey, but not everyone knows how to handle that. Once you’ve reached an ending, it’s natural to want to start the next step, even if that next step is to not start something new at all! Taking the time to find a graceful ending can help the transition process and make you feel even more prepared for your future endeavors. So, the next time you wrap up that project, complete that class, or decide it’s time to move on to your next adventure, make the ending just as good as your new beginning!

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UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Community Engagement Division (CECE) is continuously looking for ways to stay on the cutting edge of professional development for its clients. Be sure to check out the CECE website below, and reach out if you have ideas for new content you want to see! https://www.uwgb.edu/continuing-education/

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Writing/Research Credit: Christopher Ledvina, UW-Green Bay Business Development Specialist