HIRING AND TRAINING STAFF IN GHANA: MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES

When we first started, I thought hiring and training staff would be a breeze. After all, I had years of experience as an Executive Trainer and had managed teams throughout my career. But boy, was I wrong!

I quickly discovered that the labor market in Ghana was highly competitive and finding skilled workers was a challenge. But even more daunting was the task of training them to meet our high standards.

I remember one particular instance where we hired a team of young, enthusiastic servers, but they struggled to grasp our menu and service protocols. Despite repeated training sessions, they just couldn’t seem to get it right.

It wasn’t until I took a step back and realized that my training approach was a bit too theoretical, and not practical enough. I was trying to teach them concepts above their understanding, rather than showing them how to apply them in real-life situations.

So, I changed my approach. I started using role-playing exercises, customer experiences at the restaurant, hands-on training and feedback sessions to help them learn and improve. And slowly but surely, our team of servers began to excel.

Lessons Learned: When hiring and training staff in Ghana, it’s essential to adapt your approach to the local culture and learning style. What works in one country may not work in another.

Actionable Tips:

1. Use practical, hands-on training methods that allow staff to learn by doing.
2. Provide regular feedback and coaching to help staff improve and grow.
3. Be patient and flexible, and be willing to adjust your training approach as needed.