KCSpeaks

Every day it seems that resources in workforce development get smaller and smaller. No sooner we adjust to one reduced way of doing business, than another wrinkle gets thrown in and the budget is reduced again. As I write this Congress is trying to figure out what to do to fix the finances in this country and how to avoid a government shutdown. What that means for workforce development as an industry is that we are going to have to cut coupons and collect cans to make ends meet, as we will be allocated less money in the future.  It’s the less is more thing theme that keeps popping up. One of the first things to go is professional development. Attending conferences and having staff training may be luxury in times like we are facing, but eliminating professional development is a dangerous path. Innovative ideas will be lost, burn-out will grow, and resentment will rear its ugly head. Rather than call it a day, it is time for some creativity. Below are some innovative solutions t...

What do job seekers, workforce development professionals, and vacationers have in common? It’s the success equation! Every day people approach projects such as finding a job, running a workforce development organization, or even taking a vacation using the below equation. VISION + STRATEGIC PLANNING  5  (ACTION)   +  COMMUNICATION  10  (ACTION) = SUCCESS Let’s take a look at this equation more in-depth.  Vision is the how it is going to look like, the imagination of the experience. It is the reason that humans have evolved from cavemen. It is our ideas and creativity all tidied up and organized.  Strategic Planning is a process. It is deciding on action steps. It’s deciphering all those pesky little details like how big our shampoo bottles should be to get on an airplane and figuring out those bumps in the road like what to do if I post my résumé online and I do not get any interest from employers. Strategic Planning...