In today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever for businesses to have a skilled workforce to help with the strategic growth of the enterprise. For Small to Mid-Sized Businesses (SMBs), developing and retaining a skilled workforce is vital to their success. Unfortunately, many SMBs are so focused on staying afloat that they don’t realize that training their employees can go a long way in strengthening their overall business.

In a recent article on SmallBusinessTrends.com titled 11 Tips for Building and Managing a Team, a question was posed to the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invitation-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs:

“What one employee management tip would you give entrepreneurs who are building their team?”

The number one response:  “Train Them.”

The value of learning and development is clear. A highly skilled workforce, and the continued development of those employees, can be a strategic differentiator. Employees with well-developed professional skills are more innovative and productive–this investment in training results in a better future for the business and the employee. Large enterprises have recognized this value for years. It’s time for learning managers at SMBs to find learning solutions that deliver the training their employees need in a way that works them.