TQT: Training

TQT: Training
Today's quick thought is about training.
 
For a long time, 'training' was a catch all term for getting an employee where you wanted them. 'Training' was the only tool in the tool set for organizations when there were employee issues (performance issues, not discipline issues). 
 
Sadly, this is how many still think of training: a magic elixir for organizational problems.
 
It's not, and it never has been. 
 
For instance, rarely can you 'train' people to behave in certain ways in organizations. Our behaviors are deeply ingrained habits, and they can't be changed with four hours of information and an exercise.
 
Along the same lines, you can't train people to be motivated by something that doesn't motivate them. 
 
That being said, training has an important role to play - when it is applied to the right areas!
 
What areas can be trained? Skills and organizational culture are the two best areas to focus. 
 
A 'skill' is the ability to do something well; to be able to complete a given task or responsibility effectively. So 'interpersonal communication' is a skill, and it involves learned abilities like 'listening' and 'communicating'. 
 
You can learn to be a better listener by grasping basic concepts and then applying them over and over. 
 
So if you are going to train a skill, you can't set up a training session and then think it's done! It has to be ongoing - over and over and over again.
 
Similarly with culture. The culture is 'how you go about doing your work.' It flows out from your mission and values, and contains all the little unspoken rules and patterns in your company.
 
If that sounds confusing and a bit slippery, it is! And it can take some time to learn a company's culture.
 
You start by hiring for behaviors and motivations - do they line up with the needs of the job? If not, training will rarely solve the problem.
 
If they do, then you look to train skills, or to train the employees understanding of the culture. 
 
We are expert trainers, with thousands of hours of experience. We can help you design training programs that will benefit your company and save you money. Connect with us to get started.
 
And that's your Tuesday Quick Thought.