Overview
At Weber Shandwick, we believe leadership for our clients begins with knowledge – developing it, sharing it and reinforcing it in every program we offer. To that end, we are committed to continually creating new professional development programs designed to facilitate best-in-class training and education. We have implemented three cornerstone approaches –
Orientation,
Learning and Development and
Performance Management Process - to provide our people with the resources to develop their personal leadership and to support the continued excellence in our work product and client service. These programs derive from an integrated methodology linking development with our vision, our values and our work, and include:
- A strong platform that provides just-in-time learning. This approach, embodied in our Learning and Development education program, enables us to deliver learning where and when needed, and in a manner in which it can have the most positive impact on client service.
- A robust learning and development curriculum in a variety of tracks for all levels of staff. In addition to training in public relations, the tracks provide training in leadership, management and supervision; sales and negotiation; client relations and consulting skills; communication; teamwork; career development; and creativity. We combine our classroom training offerings with e-Learning solutions. The result is a wide choice of excellent instructor-led classes and Web-based training in our Learning and Development program, which provides access to the knowledge our people need to fulfill their professional aspirations.
- A competency-based performance management process. Our Performance Management Process (PMP) focuses on linking development to those competencies required to achieve leadership in our workplace and for our clients. The system ties each employee's performance and development directly to one goal - winning for our clients.
Orientation
We understand that the tone that is set during the induction into the firm sets the stage for an employee's progress and future success. To ensure that our new joiners get off to a great start, our Orientation program provides the context to integrate them quickly into the Weber Shandwick network.
Through a combination of multi-media experiences, new employees are provided with an overview of Weber Shandwick's vision and values, the breadth and scope of agency offerings and our proprietary tools for client service. They log on to an online training module, which engages them in a unique exploration of the firm's identity, history and capabilities, along with means to access practical knowledge of the firm's resources and tools for their career development. Individualized learning plans are prepared to clarify roles and set goals and objectives, with learning resources identified to build skill development in line with personal aspirations.
Learning and Development
Our approach to training and development affords every employee the chance to grow in a learning environment that emphasizes personal leadership. Employees are encouraged to formulate their own career objectives and to set developmental plans to achieve their personal goals be it in practice leadership, client service or business unit management. We offer our people a flexible learning approach that ranges from structured classroom training to self-paced e- Learning to online networks where employees learn from experts across our network.
Our curriculum is available to all and highlights essential public relations skill building and general business acumen, along with opportunities to develop personal and management leadership. To meet the unique thought leadership standards required in each of our practice areas, just in time learning and technical training is provided across practice groups in the network to supplement course offerings. And leadership forums are offered to ensure that exceptional value to clients is delivered on a consistent basis throughout the network.
Performance Management Process
The Performance Management Process (PMP) is a proprietary tool that connects our work, our programs and our people to achieve leadership in our workplace and for our clients. By focusing on those competencies that are required to build and support excellence in people, in our work product and in our client service, the system links each employee's performance and development directly to one goal - winning for our clients. This process also ensures that we deliver consistency in our approach to people development. The PMP defines the core competencies that Weber Shandwick requires for leadership, and gives our people greater access to developmental opportunities that build these competencies. By utilizing a common approach to assessment, performance planning and review as well as learning and development programs, we can ensure that our standards of performance and commitment to quality services for clients are delivered at the highest levels throughout the organization.