With today’s job market, it’s essential for businesses to retain great talent. That’s why Coryell Collaborative Group created its Grow. Prepare. Succeed. (or G.P.S.) program for team members in 2019.
Coryell Collaborative Group’s G.P.S. program fosters personal and professional growth in its team members by providing resources to achieve long-term goals. These goals could include working their way up into a management position or just learning new skills that help them with their current role within the company.
“We value innovation in our company and that goes for internal relations as well as external,” said CCG Training and Development Specialist Alison Thurlkill. “Growth in the company keeps employees engaged and ultimately keeps them from leaving.”
When team members leave, it costs the company money – as most business owners know – and its essential that staff have opportunities to better themselves in every aspect of their lives. In 2022, Coryell Collaborative Group realized 41 team member promotions through the G.P.S. program, which is an estimated savings of $120,000 in turnover costs.
Initially, the G.P.S program was designed to provide employee assistance benefits for staff. However, today, the program encompasses four pillars: CCG University, Employee Engagement, Career Path/Development, and CCG Health and Wellness.
Through these four pillars team members can access leadership training, department training, personal growth, personal safety, wellness opportunities and employee assistance. If staff members are looking to grow into a leadership position or even a different position, they can set up a time to meet with human resources to derive a plan. Once a plan has been agreed upon, human resources staff works with the team member securing the training and development they need in order to earn the promotion or be successful in a new role.
“In addition to career advancement, Coryell Collaborative Group is dedicated to creating initiatives that foster growth in team members’ mental health and well-being,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Chris Bos. “The success of this program is an example of what it looks like when the organization’s values are put into action.”
Blake Ekstam has been with Coryell Collaborative Group for seven years and is an avid supporter of the program. Blake started with the company as a property manager and now serves as Operations Project Manager.
“G.P.S has helped me professionally through the availability of education courses in areas such as time management, conflict resolution and Excel training to name a few,” said Blake. “These learning opportunities, the employee assistance program, and tips on personal health and wellness provided through CCG’s Employee Portal have been a huge benefit personally.”
The G.P.S. program not only helps with team member retention, but it also offers another benefit for job seekers when they are deciding their next career move.
“Typically, when you look at benefits a company offers, you think about salary, medical benefits and retirement,” Ekstam said. “But CCG can offer this training and development in addition to the normal company benefits.”
Workplaces are only as strong as the dedicated team members who bring them to life. Coryell Collaborative Group is proud to offer a program that encourages continual personal growth while allowing team members to choose the career path that best fits their skill sets and passions.
