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thedrifter
01-03-06, 05:43 AM
Basic training prepares work forces to do battle
By KATIE GRASSO
Courier-Post Staff

Push-ups before the morning meeting? Sit-ups with your coffee?

No, this isn't a description of a New Year's resolution diet gone crazy. It's an employee training technique catching on in the area.

Business Battlefield Seminars, a Coopersburg, Pa.-based company, uses Marine-style training to help employees develop leadership, team-building and communication skills.

Leadership

Owner Matt Daniel began the company after finishing 12 years in the Marine Corps and realizing the leadership training techniques that worked well in the Marines had parallels to the business world, because as Daniel puts it, "leadership is leadership."

Michelle Davis, sales manager of Jack & Jill Ice Cream Co.'s Food Service Division, brought Daniel to the Moorestown facility to help the customer service representatives -- who field at least 200 calls a day -- better handle calls.

The CSRs were divided into groups, and then chose a commander. They executed a simulated combat situation, which forced them to act as a team to work through different challenges.

"It took us out of our element and broke the ice," Davis said. "I think it built morale within the group."

After each combat situation, Daniel sticks to the Marine-like training and debriefs the group on their performance. This is where the employees make a connection to their job performance and learn how they can apply the skills used during the exercise at work.

Communication

"We know a lot of problems are caused by leaders not making timely and effective decisions," Daniel said. "Every company thinks their problems are unique, but it's usually a communication issue. People are left in the dark or they are not listening correctly.

"These missions help people realize who is on their team and what is needed to get the job done."

Most companies' seminars are different. In one highly physical training session, employees spent more than two hours in groups in the wilderness, relying on each other's knowledge of a compass, map and communication devices.

Each group is joined by a Marine, employed by Daniel and put in place to make the group's pseudo-military mission as difficult -- and educational -- as possible.

"They're exhausted but exhilarated," Daniel said of the company participants.

While Daniel is a "commanding guy, but in a nice way," according to Davis and the CSRs at Jack & Jill, he provided ways to make them better at their specific jobs.

"We've had different national speakers come in and speak at our sales meetings but none asked how they could help our company specifically," Davis said. Daniel "is more of a grass-roots guy . . . he was concerned about the development of our company."

Reach Katie Grasso at (856) 486-2478 or kgrasso@courierpost online.com
Published: January 03. 2006 3:00AM

Ellie

greensideout
01-03-06, 08:13 PM
I'll just have the ice cream please.