Whether you’ve been in print and mail for 3 days, 3 years, or 3 decades – education and training are essential to your success. Inkjet technology, paper shortages and postal policy changes are just a few trends impacting operations. Skillful managers recognize that they can’t know everything, but that they can continue to learn.
Belonging to professional associations – like the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) – is an important first step. Yet, it is just that – the first step. To learn, you need to take advantage of everything IPMA has to offer:
- Certification – achieving the Certified Graphic Communications Manager (CGCM) or Certified Mail Manager (CMM) designation is about more than adding letters after your name. Preparing for the exam will require reviewing what you know about the industry and about managing.
- Webinars – IPMA holds regular webinars on postal issues, leadership, and new technologies.
- Educational Conference – The annual conference is packed with tours, sessions, awards and a trade show. It’s an opportunity to learn from fellow professionals and industry experts.
- Road Shows – these mini-conferences bring the show to your neighborhood! Hosted by a local in-plant, these shows highlight the ongoing challenges facing in-plant managers.
- Shop Talk – unique in our industry, “Shop Talk” is a members-only forum to exchange ideas. The power of networking means being able to learn from each other.
Beyond IPMA, you should take advantage of in-person and online learning opportunities. Topics to add to your curriculum might include:
- Postal rates and regulations – the US Postal Service is in the midst of significant upheaval. Twice-yearly rate increases, infrastructure changes and new products impact everyone. Your local Postal Customer Council is a great resource for information and training. And remember, IPMA is a member of the PMG Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC).
- Supply chain management – paper isn’t the only commodity used in our industry. Global events impact local supplies. Inks, toner and machine parts aren’t always readily available. Follow experts like “Supply Chain Dive” for the latest news and information.
- Vendor capabilities – in our new hybrid world, vendor webinars are more common than ever. In many cases, they have customers do the presenting, allowing an opportunity to interact with our peers.
- Leadership training – reach out to Human Resources for internal or external training. If your company is using “Agile” or “Six Sigma”, sign up for those courses. Consider sending individuals that may be promoted in the future to help them understand what will be expected of them.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) – there’s a lot of hype around AI, but there’s a lot of practical uses in the world of print and mail. Go beyond the hype and learn what new tools may be useful to your operation.
- General knowledge – not all learning has to be about our industry. Read books on any subject – gardening, astronomy, history, or whatever else interests you. Growing as a person helps us grow as leaders.
The best managers are those that understand that learning is a lifelong endeavor. Use the resources from IPMA and others to inform yourself and your team. Combine education and training to build a bridge to a successful tomorrow.
Mark M. Fallon is president and CEO of The Berkshire Company, a consulting firm specializing in mail and document processing strategies. The company develops customized solutions integrating proven management concepts with emerging technologies to achieve total process management. He offers a vision of the document that integrates technology, data quality, process integrity, and electronic delivery. His successes are based upon using leadership to implement innovative solutions in the document process. You can contact Mark at mmf@berkshire-company.com.