The economic downturn, recession or credit crunch seems to dominate management thinking at present. Whatever you call it, there is little doubt that many companies seem to use it as a reason for getting as much as they can for as little outlay as possible. Companies should always be doing this in any case so managers becoming frustrated when they are told to do this is understandable.

The biggest expense a manager usually has is his staff. This is, of course, also his biggest asset. However a manager cannot keep passing the pressure on to his staff. Eventually, the atmosphere that this kind of pressure engenders will lead to demotivation of personnel.

The key is training. Senior staff should undertake regular management training. They can then ensure that the things they learn are cascaded down to their staff. Equally important is that the staff themselves should receive training.

Of course, just throwing training at staff is not the answer. Proper research and a training needs analysis should be carried out so that there is a clear understanding of what is required. Training can then be tailored to the needs of individuals and groups as appropriate.

Individuals will not only be encouraged by the training itself but also be motivated by the fact that the company is prepared to make the resources available to help their staff.