This concept of value is one that we often speak about in the training and education industry.
We are of the opinion that in many instances compliance is seen as an end goal. We celebrate clean audits and complete check lists, whereas these should be the bare minimum of what we are setting out to do.
Obviously from a company's perspective, whether corporate or small business, we are in business for the profits, not to profiteer. Let us firstly clarify that profiteering is defined as the practice of making or seeking to make an excessive or unfair profit. While making profits is a very simple act of delivering as promised within the budget as forecast.
Is it however as easy as that? The answer is yes. Everything else rests on good leadership and management. If you consider that the leader has one job; to ensure that they inspire and motivate their people to full engagement. Management is more about command-and-control functions like setting goals, honing processes and procedures and in the process ensuring compliance. Taking these clear roles into consideration, then yes, it is that easy.
But where does the value lie beyond compliance? The value essentially lies in our ability to see that compliance is the beginning and not the end goal and that the cost of compliance is part of that budget forecast. The big question is, what is the cost of the value?
We are of the opinion that if we take the cost of value into account, the rest is plain sailing.
An analogy that springs to mind is:
When you go to the doctor, the very least you expect is that they have the suitable qualification to diagnose your disease. In fact, it is downright illegal for them not to have that qualification. Should that doctor however be dismissive, rushed and not treat you with an appropriate amount of empathy or have an accounts department that does not know how to submit your claim to your medical aid, you would soon be looking around for another one.
The medical qualification is the compliance. Everything else is the value. And it comes at a cost... If said doctor does not allocate sufficient time and money to the necessary outcome of adding value (Customer Relations and Skills Training, in this example) to their practise or "bedside manner", they would soon find themselves struggling financially.
In the training industry it is always truly gratifying working with those clients who have understood the cost of value, as these clients allocate sufficient time with small enough classes to ensure an in-depth dive into the skills training they have identified for their ultimate business needs.
At Staff Training we are always prepared to have the value-added discussion with you and we will always accommodate you in any way possible. As we too believe that the value lies way beyond mere compliance.
© Debbie Engelbrecht 2023
Debbie is the MD at
Staff Training, providing soft skills and leadership training for South Africans since 2000. Should you wish for Staff Training to put together an annual training package for you, please email info@stafftraining.co.za