Personal Development Week at EBC

Nadia Putri - Ross School of Business

When EBC's General Manager asked me to organize training for recently-promoted supervisors during the rest of my time in Desa Ban, I was perplexed. What should I talk about and share with them in 10 days straight?!

The objective of her request was to get the employees used to the idea of strategic thinking, effective discussions, etc. Most of them came from the lowest level of employment at EBC. Some started the job not knowing how to use computers and now have to process data in Excel. They were hired for manual labor, paid by the kilograms or daily. Thus, it is a challenge to switch from an output-oriented work mindset to a more strategic work mindset. We hope to embed in their minds that they have bigger responsibility now, which is to coordinate, collaborate, and work across departments.

Considering all of these and after brainstorming with the head of people operations at EBC, I designed a one-week program called "Personal Development Week" for ~15 supervisor-level employees, including factory supervisors to headmaster of EBC's preschool. With "action-based learning" in mind, I created training-workshop program. Training is when I presented some tools related to the topic, whereas workshop is a stage for them to put these tools into practice.

---

Training & Workshop 1: Public Speaking & Feedback Giving

In the first training set, I shared some tools on how to present your thoughts/ideas in a structured manner and deliver constructive criticism that provides learning insights for the recipients. During workshop the next day, I asked them to present a work problem that they're facing in front of their peers for 3 minutes. Their peers, in turn, provided feedback on their performance.

Whenever I bumped into them in the hallway, they would come up to me saying they're "very nervous about tomorrow's speech". I took every opportunity to remind them that this is just to increase their confidence, get them used to speak in front of a big group, and gain feedback from the audience. It's not to criticize or show their flaws, but to keep practicing!

Rinna Kustiana explained problem she's facing in her department

At the end of the workshop, one of them asked "when's the next time we do this again?"

Training & Workshop 2: Problem Solving & Effective Team Discussion

In the following training set, I partnered with one employee from people operations to present the material. He presented how to do critical problem solving and how to navigate teams with different POVs. We picked two best presenters from public speaking workshop, split the audience into 2 random groups, and assigned them with one of the best presenters' problems. During the workshop, we let them work in their respective team to brainstorm, discuss, and come up with recommendations to solve the problem.

Team 2 during problem solving workshop at factory's gazebo, surrounded by lush scenery

We gave them 1 hour to meet, yet we went a bit over because the discussion was so fun and insightful!

Training & Workshop 3: Presenting with Visual Tools

Finally, the last set of the training should put a bow on this one-week program. I shared some tips and tools to structure and design slide deck using PowerPoint. On the final training day, they will work in teams to create their slide deck, present their findings to the other team, and critique each other's recommendations! This final day serves as an opportunity to showcase everything they have learned this week.

Team 1 creating their slide deck to present their recommendations for AnaKardia preschool

---

I was nervous about how this one-week program will turn out. It's never done before at EBC, especially since the employees have to take some time off work to attend a class every single day. But, this pilot training received very positive feedback! Post-training survey says that they wished they had more time during the training/workshop, and would like to join more similar training in the future

I was not expecting a major shift in the training participants only after attending a one-week training. I wanted them to experience and most importantly: enjoy the learning process, and luckily this mission was accomplished. I hope this training will continue and can be opened to a wider audience at the factory.

As the old saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. But I'm glad I took part in laying the foundation of something great in Desa Ban, East Bali.

Training participants and I at the end of our last workshop