Investing in Diamond Grading Education Pays…With Interest

April 14, 2018  |  Jonathan Kendall, President, the International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR) President, the World Jewelry Confederation (CIBJO), Education and Marketing Commission  |  SPONSORED BY: International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR)

Training and educational support is a crucial way to make sure we can compete in the retail environment.

In November 2017, at the World Jewellery Confederation’s (CIBJO) global congress in Bangkok, published a guide about how to build winning teams in our industry and achieve greater success (People, Our Greatest Asset ). I refer to that guide here because one of its key themes was the importance of training and development. Even the most highly skilled employees need job-specific training and development to ensure they are equipped and motivated to perform to the best of their abilities.

Good training programs deliver solid and direct benefits to employers and employees alike: They improve knowledge, skill levels and enthusiasm for the job, and they enhance one’s credentials as an employer of choice.

The training of staff should be an ongoing process. New employees in the industry need to start with a good foundation of our wonderful products, and that’s exactly why we just launched our new Diamond Foundation course from the International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR).

They then need to continue developing their skills. A fuller understanding of grading diamonds, for example, gives them the ability to speak to customers with greater integrity and knowledge.

This supplement is designed to provide a useful reminder of the training opportunities available, and examine essential topics that will help many people achieve greater success.

I personally believe our people are our most important asset, and as an industry, we need to keep doing more to support them. In providing training and educational support throughout the trade, we have the opportunity to refocus our skill base and make sure we can compete with the new set in the retail environment — especially consumer technology products.

I’d like to quote Benjamin Franklin here, as this simple statement epitomizes my personal beliefs: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” We must never underestimate the power of training and knowledge. We never stop learning, and training helps us all better ourselves. It breeds confidence, and it gives us the skills we need to succeed in life.

Image: iStock photo

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Investing in Diamond Grading Education Pays…With Interest

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