Why continuous learning is vital for SME leaders

Just the thought of continuous learning can be overwhelming when you’re managing a busy business. When you’re investing all of your time in keeping the business on track and your employees engaged, personal development can easily be put on the backburner.  However, the benefits of training for leaders have been proven time and time again.

YouGov and CMI found that 82% of leaders consider themselves ‘accidental’ managers. These managers have never had any formal leadership training and often find themselves promoted because of their technical ability rather than their managerial skills.

Speaking to Management Today, Dr Suzanne Ross, Principal Lecturer of SME Short Courses and Nottingham Trent University, explained how people end up in these positions: “When employees move up the career ladder, they tend to be rewarded by promotion to management level. People often find themselves in these roles due to their experience, and not necessarily their leadership skills or desire to be a manager.”

The repercussions of insufficient management training are felt throughout organisations. 28% of employees have left a business due to a poor relationship with their manager, while 33% reported decreased motivation as a result of managerial actions. Given these statistics, the necessity for management training among leaders becomes glaringly evident.

While numerous training options exist, more comprehensive leadership programmes with face-to-face support and guidance emerge as indispensable tools for equipping managers with the skills essential for progress. Alumni of the Help to Grow: Management Course have spoken about its impact on their leadership and business.

Rachel Hicken, founder of pizza company Pig and Olive, explained how the course helped her: “The business had been running for seven years, but for the majority of that, I was working in the business and focused on the day-to-day. I came to the realisation that we didn’t have the skills to run the business, we were very good at making our pizzas but not so good at the business elements.

‘I think every business leader will see that the work they’re doing with the Help to Grow: Management Course is the most important work that needs to be done. I realised when I took a step out of the business the constant pressure wasn’t helping us move forward. Ultimately, we aren’t just pizza makers anymore, we’re business leaders.’

Those who have previously had business training have also found the course valuable Shahbaz Khan, Managing Director of Drop Box Logistics and Fuels Limited completed his MBA but enrolled in the Help to Grow: Management Course after the COVID-19 pandemic: “I had a very good experience with my MBA, but I wanted to refresh my skills, meet new people and open my horizons.

The course gave me a reminder of the tools that I could use to support my growing business, and the information alongside the support of my mentor encouraged me to consider new areas where I could invest.”

The benefits of continuous learning are clear. Whether it’s starting from scratch or refreshing knowledge you may have stopped practicing, having the skills to apply new practices can only further your business.

Dr Suzanne Ross concluded in her article: “For leaders who have developed a career built on their technical skills or expert knowledge, there is a perceived risk in stepping back from this to mentor and lead talent. But by doing this, developing allowing founders and senior leaders to concentrate on strategic growth."