HARNESSING THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP

According to Steven Spielberg, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves”. While this is the ideal outcome, in many instances this relationship is misunderstood, leading to an inappropriate or detrimental conclusion. Mentoring should be a positive process that focusses on strengths and passion. What then […]

WHY CONSULTANTS ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS

The latest South African economics news indicates unemployment at an incredibly high 26.4 percent. With these levels of unemployment on the rise, and the damaging effect that loadshedding and other price hikes are having on businesses in all industries, the effective management and operational running of organisations are crucial to success. Time is money. For this reason, time is the […]

CAREER PROFILING FOR GUIDANCE AND GROWTH

CAREER PROFILING FOR GUIDANCE AND GROWTH

Career Profiling is an effective tool in the development of staff, career development of individuals and the overall talent management of an organisation. For career profiling to be effective, the first step should, however, always be a gap analysis. This is essential in creating a profile that showcases the skills and attributes that a candidate already has, while indicating possible […]

DO PROFESSIONAL BODIES DRIVE PROFESSIONALISM?

The Business Dictionary defines a ‘professional body’ as a; “Trade association ofan organised profession that certifies successful completion of its requirements, andthereupon awards a license and bestows a recognised appellation (designation). Professionalbodies usually prescribe a discretionary or mandatory code of conduct for their members.”The question arises – do these associations add value for their members?Mark Orpen, Chief Executive Officer and […]

DO PROFESSIONAL BODIES DRIVE PROFESSIONALISM?

The Business Dictionary defines a ‘professional body’ as a; “Trade association ofan organised profession that certifies successful completion of its requirements, andthereupon awards a license and bestows a recognised appellation (designation). Professionalbodies usually prescribe a discretionary or mandatory code of conduct for their members.”The question arises – do these associations add value for their members?Mark Orpen, Chief Executive Officer and […]

DOES SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATE INTO WORK READINESS?

PIVOTAL grant funding and the trend of most companies building graduate programme intotheir recruitment processes has increased awareness, but perhaps not understanding of orbuy-in to, work readiness. The critical skills lacking in today’s graduates costs South Africanbusiness dearly, and leads to frustration experienced both by the business and by the newemployee. The new employee often finds it difficult to fit […]

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO WORK READINESS

Skills development initiatives don’t mean much in the workplace if real work readiness is notachieved. If the skills taught cannot be implemented by the employee at work, if they amountonly to theoretical learning without practical application, will any return on investment beachieved?According to Gizelle McIntyre, Director at The Institute of People Development workreadiness programmes need to be well designed and […]

HOW TO ACHIEVE AND EVALUATE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ROI

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying; “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”Yet, in an economy where nothing is certain, many companies shy away from real knowledgebuilding, to avoid the perceived cost and the headache they assume determining return oninvestment (ROI) will be.However, putting the heart-warming stories of the advancement of staff and theimprovement of productivity aside, when it […]

DRIVING EXCELLENCE IN PEOPLE THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Skills development remains acknowledged as a key driver of economic growth in South Africa.Without it, the workforce cannot move forward. Graduation is a word that is filled with hope,a promise for a more specialised future, and a symbol of commitment to personal andprofessional development.The Institute of People Development (IPD) recently celebrated the culmination of hard workand dedication; it held its […]

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS; MOULDING EMPLOYABLE GRADUATES

Further Education and Training (FET) should strive to achieve three goals: making graduates employable; creating a diverse workforce; and meeting the needs of the country’s economy. The 2017 Youth Day theme is; “The year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Empowerment”. The goals of FET and the theme for the celebration of youth could not be more perfectly aligned. The […]