MANSFIELD — It’s never too early to learn how to be a good manager. But most importantly, it’s never too late.
SPARC Talent Development is hosting a day-long event to better ‘Your ‘A’ Game’ in life, at work and in the classroom, March 23 at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center.
The event gives attendees three opportunities to learn about being a better team player in work, life and in the classroom. The event is free.
Bring Your ‘A’ Game revolves around adopting seven A’s: Attitude, Attendance, Appearance, Ambition, Appreciation, Accountability and Acceptance.
From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Josh Davies will give a lecture about the Bring your ‘A’ Game program. Davies has given keynote and training workshops to a bevy of organizations across the country.
In 2008, he led the training for 10,000 volunteers and more than 4,000 local service professionals at the Democratic National Convention. He was named on of the top 10 trainers under 40-years-old by Training Magazine and Denver Business Journal pegged him as one of the city’s 40 under 40. He is a published author and is frequently cited in nationals publications.
“The Idea is about how people can understand expectations better in the work place,” Davies said. “Most newly hired people have or can learn skills to do the job, but what they lack are soft skills — behavior skills. This will help teach employers and educator way to teach soft skills in the work place.”
At 12:30 to 2 p.m., Davies will host a break out session to learn strategies and best practices to implement the Bring Your ‘A’ Game program.
A repeat of the morning’s session will be repeated at 2:30 p.m.
Karen Seman, director of workforce development said the event is especially important for business hire-ups in the county because of the high amount of turnover local businesses have seen lately.
“Work ethic decline, a need for a greater work ethic is something I consistently hear every time I visit an employer,” Seman said. “This is the impression of employers consistently telling me they are looking for low skill employees — where the wages are not necessarily that high, but at least give them some foot in the game.”
Lori Bedson, assistant director at Richland County Job and Family Services mired the sentiments.
We are in a period now where employers continue to do the job the same way we used to,” she said. “Now people don’t want to do things the way it was done 20-30 years ago.
“They want flexibility in their schedules. Younger employees want to flex their muscles so to speak. Traditional employers have trouble with that.”
Seman and Bedson also said it is common for younger generations to feel a lack of appreciation for their work and that can cause turnover.
A boost in moral could change that.
“I think if people can participate in the planning or feel part of the development of a product, they will feel more connected — involved,” Bedson said. “A paycheck is not the only thing that drives us to work. Yes, it’s important, but it may not be the most important. Employees want to be valued by their boss, coworkers and customers.”
Bedson added SPARC’s event is a great opportunity for managers and company-overseers to learn about new ideas and way to bring more positivity to work.
