crosstrain employees
During my first professional position, our Student Activities Office shared office space with the Career Services Office. We were quite a congenial crew and often ate lunch together, celebrated each others birthdays, and held holiday “pitch in” meals with each other.
Both offices were busy with students continually in and out. My office also staffed the campus information desk. After sharing the office suite for two years I realized that I knew a lot about the career services operation. In fact, I found myself correctly answering a lot of questions and able to make referrals to students like a pro. I think it happened as much by osmosis as by necessity.
I wonder how much more quickly I could have learned the basics of their operation if we had been more intentional in cross training within the suite. I know that it was a great relief to those colleagues that our staff could answer questions for them when they weren’t in or after hours. It provided a nearly seamless level of service to the students and added enormously to my professional knowledge base.
What burdens could be lifted for you if someone else knew the basics of your job? Look around, is there a logical someone who could or should know how to do your job? Think how rested your vacation could be if you knew your work was competently accomplished in your absence. As always start small. Train someone on a few tasks, and then become very intentional at incorporating this tip into your professional repertoire.
By the way, perhaps you can help someone else out with their work (and peace of mind) as well.
Happy Training!
Tracy
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Tracy Knofla
High Impact Training
PS. Feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues