This perfect storm of "doing more with less" is driving many public sector organizations to acknowledge the importance of investing in leadership development and employee training programs. There is increased recognition at all levels of government that leaders, managers and staff who provide vitally important government services must not only maintain and sharpen their technical competence, but also develop their ability to communicate and collaborate more effectively.

While many organizations have adopted a variety of programs and initiatives to develop their managers and employees, too often training and development is disconnected from organizational goals, business strategies and the actual workplace reality. According to the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), only 15 percent of the skills taught are actually applied on the job. Understanding and incorporating a number of elements essential to effective training and development is vital for delivering results that support meaningful growth and success for leaders and their teams.

Needs Analysis
One of the most important factors in any training and development strategy is to determine desired outcomes in advance by starting with a needs analysis. Linking development experiences to business needs - and stretching participants - is the key to success. An effective starting point is to ask "What change in the behavior or performance of managers and employees is expected as a result of this training that will help the organization?"

Most employers are aware of their responsibility for the safety and health of their employees while on the job, but many may not be utilizing one of the most effective ways to maintain a safe and healthy workplace: raising employee awareness of workplace safety and health through ongoing training.

Employee involvement in workplace safety and health programs can only be successful when everyone on the job receives sufficient training to understand what their safety and health responsibilities and opportunities are and how to fulfill them. Employers must make training a high priority to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Engaging knowledgeable trainers both within and outside the organization and allowing time for on the job training are vital. Annual evaluation of the organization's training efforts to look for methods of improvement is also a key factor in an effective workplace safety and health strategy.