Written by 10 Easy Ways to Make Training Stick
A simple checklist
1. Provide pre-course information to delegates. Many delegates are suspicious or afraid of training for a whole range of reasons. The way the pre-course information is given to them can greatly affect the degree of enthusiasm they bring with them to the training.
2. Reassurance is key. Reassure delegates that the training session is aimed at improving performance and not because they are all riddled with weaknesses.
3. Engagement not boredom. Reassure delegates that there will be no boring long lectures, role play or PowerPoint presentations. Tell them that the training should be fun and entertaining.
4. Pre-course engagement and involvement is critical.
5. Ask the delegates to complete pre-course work. Then forward this to the training provider.
Getting delegates to do some pre-course work (in the form of a brief questionnaire) will:
Send the right message out that the whole initiative will be taken seriously including their thoughts and input. It will also give us the trainers, information that we can use in our sessions in order to tailor the sessions to meet the needs of the delegates.
Give the organisation additional information in order to make the whole exercise more effective.
6. Management training. Unless team leaders, supervisors and managers are committed to the training and the end result the effect will always be limited. Managers need to attend the general training sessions themselves and be ready to lead by example after attending one of our quality and customer care programmes aimed at managers. The manager sessions enable them to keep the momentum of the training up and ‘manage’ a team to achieve excellence in everything that they do.
7. Measurement. Incorporate some measurement into the training session and let the delegates know that someone will be monitoring the effects. According to research this increases the effectiveness of the training.
8. Encourage regular team meetings that focus upon issues related to the training is a good way of reinforcing it and monitoring the effects.
9. Have the Chief Executive actively and enthusiastically endorse the training, attend one session personally (preferably alongside as many Directors as possible) and write a forward on the course materials.
10. Post additional ‘reminders’ scatter all over the building in the form of posters etc.
Training is an investment. So make the training stick.