| Such programs are designed to provide trainees | | | | inside the organization. |
| with an overview of an organization's operations. | | | | At Staples, trainees go through seminars, training |
| This is achieved by a rotational training of all the | | | | sessions on all aspects of the processes for which |
| departments, and it provides exposure to all the | | | | they are being trained. Therefore, they get to |
| important activities and operations of the business. | | | | know about everything - how to quote prices for |
| This way, trainees get first hand experience of | | | | products or services according to company |
| the functioning of the organization, from the very | | | | practice, how to negotiate, supply chain |
| top to the bottom of the management ladder. | | | | management, logistics and much more. |
| This in turn helps them become more effective | | | | Sometimes, trainees work with managers that |
| and efficient managers and leaders. | | | | act as their mentors. |
| Leadership programs vary widely on any number | | | | Experience Pays Off |
| of different things. The specific structure depends | | | | In a program run in an industry such as retail, |
| upon the type of industry, work, services and | | | | trainees are initially rotated at the store level. |
| operations. They also have some very basic | | | | They get the experience of working at the |
| elements in common. | | | | counter in the first phase of the training. |
| At the beginning, trainees are usually rotated | | | | Once they join the office and assume other |
| through various departments to become familiar | | | | responsibilities, they understand the value of their |
| with work. In addition, they are also "earmarked" | | | | training. Such trainees who join the company |
| as potential candidates for top positions in the | | | | speak about their being able to understand the |
| future. | | | | routine work, "right from day 1". |
| The Value of Leadership Programs | | | | At Hilton Hotels for example, under housekeeping |
| All the top leaders in various industries | | | | rotation, trainees are required to make beds and |
| acknowledge the importance of such programs. | | | | clean rooms. However, all this experience pays |
| At Hilton Hotels, the trainees are rotated through | | | | off, as they go on to become not only managers, |
| about a dozen different hotel departments during | | | | but also future company leaders as well. |
| a period of 6 to 8 months. It has been proven | | | | Leadership Grooming |
| that these employees, who as trainees undergo all | | | | This very experience of performing quite |
| the operations of all departments in the hotel, | | | | ground-level duties of everyday chores makes |
| make better managers. | | | | not only managers but also potential top leaders |
| Staples also runs such a program. In their | | | | of the organization. Hilton has many directors and |
| program, trainees are rotated to give them the | | | | even VPs who were trained in leadership |
| experience of working at retail store and the | | | | programs. |
| head office. It is observed that these programs | | | | Of course, getting it right from the basics is the |
| give a better understanding of the overall working | | | | key to success, isn't it? |
| of the organization and the operations involved | | | | |