Opinion: The businesses that keep learning will be the ones that keep moving

Kylie Cornelius | Executive Officer | Marlborough Chamber of Commerce

Published in the Marlborough Weekend Express Sat 5 September.

There is a lot of talk about productivity, growth and making our businesses more competitive. But underneath all of that is something fairly simple: capability.

A business can have a great product, loyal customers and a strong team, but if it stops learning, it will eventually struggle to keep pace. The pace of change, particularly around technology and the way we work, means standing still is becoming increasingly difficult.

That is why I think investing in the skills of our people is one of the most practical things a business can do.

At the Chamber, we are putting a real focus on this through the training and development opportunities we offer our members. Not because businesses need another box to tick, but because building capability has a direct impact on how well a business can respond to what is ahead.

AI is an obvious example. There is plenty of noise around artificial intelligence, but the real opportunity for most businesses is much more practical. How can it save time? Where can it improve a process? Can it help a small team do more without simply working longer hours? We are working with the Nelson AI Sandbox to help businesses explore those questions in a practical way, rather than simply talking about AI as the next big thing.

We are also offering Dale Carnegie training in leadership and sales. These are not particularly new skills, but they remain incredibly relevant. Good leaders need to know how to communicate, manage people and create accountability. And businesses need people who are confident building relationships, understanding customers and converting opportunities into sales.

Upskilling should not be seen as something reserved for large businesses with big training budgets. In fact, it can be even more important for smaller businesses, where every person has a significant impact on the overall performance of the business.

There is also support available to help make this investment more achievable. Through the Regional Business Partner Network, businesses may be eligible for Growth Advisor support towards some professional development and training.

Ultimately, investing in capability is investing in the future of the business. The skills we need today will not necessarily be the skills we need in five years. Businesses that create a culture of learning, curiosity and development will be far better placed to adapt, take up new opportunities and grow.

That is good for individual businesses, and it is good for the strength and resilience of our wider Marlborough business community.