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By: Sharon Windham, HR Chief of Training and Development for Howard County Government
Over the past five years, Howard County Government has made it a priority to invest in training and professional development opportunities for staff. In that time, the organization has pursued numerous customized courses, designed and delivered by Training & Development Solutions by Howard Community College (HCC). Among the customized courses offered: Making the Transition to Supervisor, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Effective Communication, Coaching and Feedback, Managing Conflict, Effective Delegation, and most recently, Challenges of a Changing Organization.
“The number of changes that came about during the COVID-19 pandemic were significant, and we needed direction on how to best manage them and help our team through ongoing transitions,” said Sharon Windham. “The Challenges of a Changing Organization course helped us understand how to acclimate and create a more harmonious and productive work environment, despite all of the transitions taking place.”
One example is how Howard County Government now conducts new employee orientation. Historically, sessions were held in-person, until COVID-19 forced the human resources team to consider alternative approaches. A decision was made to temporarily facilitate sessions virtually, with intentions of eventually resuming in-person orientation. However, the team began to realize the many benefits associated with a virtual format, that were never considered previously. And today, virtual orientation is the clear preference.
“We know that people don’t always immediately embrace change, but our training and experience during COVID-19 have helped us see that, in some cases, new ways can actually end up being better ways,” said Windham.
She says her team’s partnership with Training & Development Solutions has been beneficial for a number of reasons. HCC is a local business, which was a driving factor in Howard County Government’s decision to pursue the relationship years ago. She believes her organization is getting an incredible value through training programs offered at a reasonable and effective cost, and taught by instructors who are true experts in their fields. And perhaps most importantly, the Training & Development Solutions team is committed to customizing programs in line with Howard County Government’s specific needs and goals.
“They listen to our needs and build engaging, impactful programs, specifically for my organization,” said Windham. “Training & Development Solutions has helped us better align employee development with organizational needs. They are committed to our success and are truly our go-to resource for training.”