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Listen up: I've got the pink duct
tape.
I've got a roll of pink duct tape, and I am
not afraid to use it.
Last month, I started pulling off a strand of
Hello Kitty duct tape after an instructor from one of the local
higher education institutions couldn’t resist trying to give a
lecture to a group of business professionals.
The instructor was surprised and a little
frustrated when he was told to stop talking and listen. Actually, I
am not sure who was more shocked – the instructor or the business
people who had taken time out of their day to share their thoughts
about professional workforce readiness and preparation.
After a few moments of awkwardness, the business
community opened the floodgates during the first part of the
Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d’Alene Business of Listening Tour.
They shared some illuminating observations about trends in the
workforce and some shocking tales of employees who lack basic
skills, who suffer from poor work habits or who are unable to
effectively communicate.
It was unusual listening to them say that they
get happy when their employees show up to work every day, on time
and ready to work. Or to listen to a banker say that she has to give
handwriting tests to prospective employees to make sure they can
write legibly on critical financial documents. (I would fail this
test. My hand writing is atrocious thanks to a dozen years taking
shorthand notes as a journalist.)
The hour-long event at the Post Falls Chamber of
Commerce wasn’t just a moan and groan session. It was positive and
productive. Terrific and
practical suggestions on how to improve higher education were
offered to Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d’Alene and North Idaho
College staff and business faculty.
Here is a small sample of their ideas:
·
Teach
real-world situations and applications in every classroom
·
Ban smartphones
from the classroom.
·
Use honest,
constructive criticism regarding student’s soft skill development
and marketability.
·
Develop more
internship opportunities.
·
Require
students to take classes on how to get a job.
So what is the Business of Listening? The concept
is simple: business and community leaders get to recommend what
educators can do better to prepare students for the real world.
There are no sales pitches or gimmicks or requests for money.
LCSC CDA is partnering with the Coeur d’Alene
Chamber of Commerce and the Coeur d’Alene School District to hold
the Business of Listening: Creating Excellence in the Professional
Workforce. The event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 4 p.m. to
5:30 at the Coeur d’Alene School District’s Midtown Center.
The LCSC CDA plans to hold a Business of
Listening event in Sandpoint next month or in early March.
A final report will be generated that will
encompass all of the feedback, ideas and suggestions from the four
listening events.
This report will be distributed to the business
faculty at Lewis-Clark State College and North Idaho College for
review and discussion A
spring report to the Business of Listening participants is planned
to address all suggestions and explain what is currently being
taught, what can be included and when, as well as what can’t be
addressed and why.
I hope business leaders will make time to attend
the next event on Feb. 7 and take the advantage of the opportunity
to affect real change in higher education. You talk – we listen.
Don’t worry about being lectured or hearing excuses from those in
higher education – my duct tape is ready to roll.
Marc Stewart is the
public information coordinator for Lewis-Clark State College Coeur
d’Alene. He can be reached at (208) 292-2684 or
mwstewart@lcsc.edu
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