| The Computer Technology Industry Association | | | | path can promote satisfaction and |
| ("CompTIA") recently conducted a survey of | | | | incentive.According to Leigh Branham, "The 7 |
| 273 CompTIA members to determine the biggest | | | | Hidden Reasons Employees Leave", three of the |
| challenges for the next 12 months. Filling | | | | top reasons are related to personal |
| vitally important functional positions in | | | | development. Common reasons for leaving are |
| sales and technical customer service ranked | | | | "No feedback or coaching", "No career |
| as the most critical obstacles in the coming | | | | growth", and "Devalued or unrecognized". You |
| year.53% of respondents expect it to be | | | | can promote a positive environment to retain |
| extremely difficult to adequately fill sales | | | | valuable employees while simultaneously |
| positions in the next 12 months41% of | | | | improving personal abilities that close the |
| respondents expect it to be difficult to fill | | | | skills gap.For more information about |
| technical support and customer service | | | | training and education from the Computer |
| positions in the next 12 monthsWhat are the | | | | Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), |
| Sales Skills Gaps?55% need to improve the | | | | please visit more information about |
| ability to spot new business opportunities43% | | | | self-paced training programs and workshop |
| need to improve the ability to generate | | | | materials, please visit the Institute for |
| incremental revenue from existing clients42% | | | | Advanced Leadership at |
| need to better understand new technologies | | | | |
| and products41% need help to better | | | | of Wisdom"Success in business requires |
| anticipate customer's future needs37% need to | | | | training and discipline and hard work. But if |
| build better relationships with existing | | | | you're not frightened by these things, the |
| customers34% need to be able to close new | | | | opportunities are just as great today as they |
| businessClosing the GapThere are two | | | | ever were." |
| approaches to closing the skills gap.One | | | | |
| approach is to look for talent to fill the | | | | - David Rockefeller"Greatness is more than |
| gaps. This approach has a constant risk of | | | | potential. It is the execution of that |
| betting on the hiring process, bidding for | | | | potential. Beyond the raw talent. You need |
| new talent, and the risk of losing quality | | | | the appropriate training. You need the |
| candidates to a higher bidder.Another | | | | discipline. You need the inspiration. You |
| approach is to develop talent with training. | | | | need the drive." |
| The hidden benefit of training talent is | | | | |
| employee loyalty. Creating an environment | | | | - Eric A Burns"Education's purpose is to |
| that offers self-improvement and a career | | | | replace an empty mind with an open one. |