Jack-
Of-All-
Trades
The importance
of effective
cross-training
and having a
second-in-command
rom the minute you open your doors in the morning
until the time comes to close up shop at night, run-
ning a successful business means that everybody
has a job to do and everybody’s job is critical. Unfortu-
nately, this fact just makes it that much harder to recover
from the sting of losing a critical employee unexpectedly.
Instead of equating the loss of a vital employee to a
‘Doomsday’ scenario, consider the many benefits associ-
ated with cross-training.
Building A Better Business
Is A Team Effort
When you cross-train your employees, you are giving
them the opportunity to invest in their own professional
development; in doing so, they become more confident,
knowledgeable and driven to deliver exceptional results.
The following are just three more reasons why implement-
ing a cross-training program can help drive the long-term
success of your company.
Effective Cross-Training Provides:
1. WELL-ROUNDED KNOWLEDGE: Employees develop a
wide range of skills and a general understanding for
12
topics across various industries. Additionally, when you invest
in the continued education of your employees, you are active-
ly helping to build an even better working environment, one
where professional development is valued. In turn, your team
is more apt to develop stronger relationships with their clients.
2. I NCREASED UTILIZATION: When employees have a broadened
understanding of different roles and responsibilities in the
company, they are more likely to collaborate and assist oth-
ers when needed. This widespread understanding throughout
your company can even help you reduce your labor costs. In-
stead of bringing on a new employee for or a temp to handle
the overflow, you can count on your cross-trained employees
to help pick up the slack where needed.
3. EASIER RECOVERY: Cross-training allows you to shift resources
in a way that allows optimal efficiency and greater strategy. If
one of your employees does move on, the beauty of utilizing
a cross-trained staff means that your hiring process can be
more thorough and strategic, rather than jumping at the next
applicant to send in a resume.
Continued improvement is the name of the game when it comes
to establishing a cross-training program. Encourage your
team to think outside of the box to identify ways to improve
efficiency.