Wouldn't you agree that today the most important element in our lives to achieve everything we want is good health? That health depends on many elements but one of its necessary components is regular exercise. What would you choose as the most critical element to sustain a successful organization?

Is it profits? High tech equipment? Paying clients? Innovation?  I am sure you are nodding your head and saying "well of course it's all of those things" - they are the components that drive the corporate machine.  Who then is in the driver's seat? 

In every organization it is the quality of the employees that drive profits, use or create technology or retain good clients. Thus the most important element for sustaining and building a successful organization is the quality of its training and employee development programs.

It's easier to exercise three times a week when life follows regular routines with little distracting stress.  Similarly, when corporate profits are healthy, management often turns its attention to training initiatives.  When unexpected changes, stresses or economic curves suddenly develop, these essentials for both corporate and personal health often quickly disappear.  

We know exercise is the best remedy to minimize the effects of stress. Yet the pressure in our lives corrodes our resolve and discipline and we spend our time in stress inducing activities. Similarly, corporate mission statements advocate the importance of well-trained people to meet today's business challenges but training budgets are the first area cut when the financial belt needs to be tightened.

The main skill that many training and staff development programs focus on is communication. In this world of shrinking profit margins, mergers and lightning speed competition to supply customers faster, the ability to communicate effectively is a critical asset.  The crux of many business crises today is companies have too many employees who create problems instead of solving them.  Certainly most people perceive they are doing the best they can with the resources and tools they are given.  The inability to solve problems stems from the lack of developed skills in resolving conflicts, negotiating, working in teams and just plain getting along with each other.

All it takes is one drop of water to fall at a time until a pool of water forms.  Providing training, learning or mentoring opportunities consistently, whether the economy is booming or busting, is like that one drop of water falling. The result will be employees who are energized and bring in new thinking to replenish the organizational pool with remarkable ideas.