As part of CCAPS's mission to meet the skills needs of Minnesota’s workforce, in mid-2023 we launched the Workforce Development Program, aimed at connecting organizations with industry-expert training. Now that we’re past the one-year mark, we wanted to catch up with program manager and client liaison Beth Lory to find out what common challenges organizations are facing and how CCAPS is addressing them through tailored training solutions.
Meeting Your Organization’s Unique Workforce Needs
A Diverse Range of Client Needs
Beth's role involves working with a wide array of clients—healthcare, manufacturing, education, and technology. These organizations are seeking to:
- enhance communication skills: Many clients are looking to improve their employees' ability to communicate with internal colleagues and external stakeholders more effectively, both verbally and in writing. This includes strategic communication, persuasive speaking, and active listening.
- develop leadership skills: A common goal: clients often seek training in areas such as emotional intelligence, team building, delegation, establishing priorities, and conflict resolution.
- improve technical skills: As technology continues to advance, organizations need to ensure their employees have the necessary technical skills in areas like data analysis, business analysis, and project management.
- foster a culture of continuous learning: Encouraging a culture of lifelong learning is essential for organizational success. CCAPS helps clients develop customized training programs to support their employees' continued professional growth.
"Often, clients come to me with an idea of what they need or a challenge they're trying to address, such as 'we need communication training'," Beth says. "Through thoughtful questioning and uncovering the context of their environment or situation, we identify the specific challenge they're facing. Whether it's improving written communication with others not directly on their team, fostering teamwork, having difficult and productive conversations, or motivating employees, each organization’s challenges and goals are unique."
To ensure a productive and insightful client consultation, some key questions Beth asks clients include:
- What specific challenge is your organization facing?
- What do you expect to be different or improved as a result of the training?
- What are the roles of the participants and how many?
- What is the appetite for this training among employees and leaders, and how will you support it and address any resistance?
- How can CCAPS continue to support your team or broader organization moving forward?
Tailored Solutions for Unique Challenges
One of the key strengths of CCAPS is its ability to tailor training solutions to meet the specific needs of each client. For example, a healthcare organization may require training in Agile or project management methodologies, while a technology company may need training in communication and empathy.
“CCAPS is ready to help organizations address each of those unique challenges or areas of improvement that can often be addressed by professional development.” Beth explains. “Sometimes I think the solution resides outside of our wheelhouse and I’m not hesitant to suggest another path forward for the client because I want to make sure their needs get addressed. While training can help, it’s sometimes not the first place to start. By understanding an organization's unique needs, we can tailor our training programs to deliver maximum impact.”
Beth highlighted a recent project with a medical manufacturing company that sought to improve communication between operations and engineering teams. CCAPS developed a program that focused on technical writing and effective communication strategies tailored with the client’s specific production documentation in mind.
Beth shared other examples:
- The owner of an electrical services company, who recognized that field workers and support staff lacked specific competencies in project management, conflict management, and leadership skills, is upskilling their staff via a variety of CCAPS courses.
“As we concluded the needs assessment, discussing goals that culminated in our recommendations for a broad training plan, the client expressed how easy it was to work with us and how excited he and his employees were to launch the multi-month training plan.”
- Leaders in a higher education institution sought improvement in staff’s overly-detailed emails. In partnership with CCAPS, employees are learning to write clearer, more concise communications that are succinct and respectful, especially when delivering difficult messages.
“The client came to CCAPS after learning that one of their employees had taken our strategic communication course and seen a marked improvement in the quality and effectiveness of their communication. Improving in this area has been identified as a professional development goal of their entire staff this year.”
Excellence, Conveniently Delivered
While online training offers flexibility and scalability, in-person training can provide valuable opportunities for team building, networking, problem-solving around common issues and challenges, and hands-on learning. Organizations can choose to have their teams learn together in the environment that best fits their needs. They may join public, online sessions with peers from other organizations and industries or coordinate private online or in-person group sessions that can be tailored to the client’s situation.
As Beth explained, "Some organizations prefer in-person training for its collaborative nature, while others find that online training is more convenient and cost-effective."
Thriving with the Help of a Trusted Partner
As organizations continue to evolve and experience constant change, so too will the demand for professional development. CCAPS is the trusted partner to help meet these evolving needs by offering innovative and effective training solutions.
“By staying ahead of industry trends and tailoring its offerings to the specific needs of its clients, CCAPS is helping organizations thrive in the fast-paced and dynamic work landscape,” says Beth. “I’m eager to speak with all organizations who are committed to the growth and development of their employees and determine a strategy and plan that works for them.”
Schedule a meeting with Beth to discuss your workforce needs today!
Monique Dubos is a writer and content strategist with the U of M College of Continuing and Professionals Studies, where she has covered the College’s noncredit professional development, construction management, health services management, and IT infrastructure programs since 2018. She has also written for the Institute on the Environment, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program, and various publications. Connect with her via LinkedIn.
