Opportunities for Trainers by PG S NAGALINGAM

Are there opportunities for soft skill trainers? If so, where are they? Many of the soft skill trainers who are graduated every year by an NGO JCI India are puzzled with this question. But it is said that the opportunities for soft skill trainers are aplenty. Is it a fact? Answer to yet another question that areas which need the assistance of a soft skill trainer will answer us. Whether the necessity is an omnipresent one.

• Whether productivity of a company must be improved?

• Whether networking among employees and customers must be improved?

• Whether competence of Faculties and Teachers must be developed?

• Whether the student community must be empowered?

• Whether parents need guidance in parenting?

• Whether young couple need training on Family Relations?

• What about retired people?

All the above said areas need the assistance of a soft skill trainer. In fine the need of soft skill training and trainers is in every sphere of our life viz., personal, professional, career, family etc., In fine the necessity of soft skill training is found wherever man management is needed. Out of the 5 key management areas viz., Managing money, materials, machinery, method, and men, managing men is considered the most difficult and important area which

need the role of a soft skill trainer to work on the attitude of an individual, to

improve his knowledge and develop his skills. To have a clear-cut analytical

perspective let us divide the areas of opportunities into 3 spheres viz., Social,

Functional and Behavioral and see one by one.

Social Sphere

Affluent people can afford to undergo life/soft skill education programmes, whereas the underprivileged lot are deprived of such training programmes. Govt has come out with a great initiative in the name of National Skill Development Corporation which will not only concentrate on soft skills, but also vocational skills to empower the underprivileged ones. Also, the Companies Act has made it mandatory for the trade and industry to spend a portion of their profit to the community development and Schedule VII of Act lists those activities. The soft skill trainers are concerned with sub clause ii of the schedule. The trade and industry may be good at their core area, and they may not be familiar with the said activities. A soft skill trainer can prepare a project relevant to sub clause ii and carry out with the funds from the trade. Infact, Nikhil Foundation is coordinating with M/s Ramco Cements and conduct Life skill Education programme for the under privileged school students studying in schools in and around RR Nagar, Pandalgudi and Alathiyur at their cost. Hence projects under CSR need not be always charity but sometimes remunerative also. As a founder I can vouchsafe it. Nikhil Foundation also conducted similar programmes in and around Dindigul with the CSR support from Naga Ltd.,

Academic institutions like universities conduct similar projects for the upliftment of underprivileged and the soft skill trainers can coordinate with them. Nikhil Foundation coordinated with Gandhi Gram Rural University to prepare a personality development CD to distribute among the rural youth. Foundation Coaches has handled the topics “Self-Analysis, Goal Setting, Effective Communication, Human Values and Leadership.”

NGOs like Lions conduct Lions Quest Programme for the empowerment of school students, and they need the services of soft skill trainers to make the Quest programme successful. Rotary conducts RYLA, Rotary youth Leadership Avenue for empowerment of student Community. Nikhil Foundation coordinated with Rotary club of Nagapattinam to organise a State Level RYLA, extending the faculty support. JCI India is also conducting Empowering Youth programme for the school students,and this is a wonderful avenue for the soft skill trainers. Let us further delve into Functional level.

Functional sphere

The soft skill trainers can fit into the roles devised by various Private and Public Sector Organisations for Example training Managers are recruited by Insurance Co. and Banks. Here they expect customised programmes to be handled by these trainers. The trainers are expected to orient the employees towards the co. and train the employees in selling, marketing and to perform their roles. To quote a few examples PG Ravichandran was Reliance Training Manger, PG N.Soundar is Regional Training Manager in Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Corporates other than Banking and Insurance sectors also have their HR Departments and some of them will have training Managers also. PG Suresh was earlier all India Training Manger for Himalaya, a pharmaceutical firm.

Textile industries now rope in more women employees staying in hostel and working in shifts in the company. They encounter lot of personal problems which forced such industries to recruit counsellors. One of our Nikhil Coaches, Smt.Nancy joined the ranks of Madura Coats recently. This is a grey area and trainers in and around Coimbatore, Tirupur can have a bigger role.

SME sector is the most contributing sector to the Nation in terms of money flow, providing employment etc. But the biggest concern is more units are closed for funds problem and personnel problem. The soft skill trainer either can be a mentor to such entrepreneurs or coaches to address their personnel problem. Now let us see the opportunities at Behavioral level

Behavioural sphere

This is the one area where the trainer will have the satisfaction of performing his role for his bread and butter. He can be a free lance trainer helping the trade and in dustry to bring in behaviour modification of its employees. He can involve himself in Faculty Development programme in educational institutions and empower students through his programmes. Here the demand is more but supply is less. But I strongly believe that this is one sphere were the modifications happen not only in the participants but also in the trainer himself. He is expected to practice what he preaches and if he does, he will become a role model. Once other people are following your footsteps, you r legacy, then the purpose of your life is fulfilled.

Conclusion

"Opportunities may not come to your doorstep. If you take the first step, then the path of opportunities will unfold. All the very best my dear friends."