Management Information

Why Training Fails


Sometimes when I conduct my workshop on Effective Meetings, one of the participants will ask, "Where's my boss?"

And I say, "Your boss claimed to be an expert on holding effective meetings."

Then the person laughs. "My boss needs to attend your workshop more than anyone in our company. And without our manager's support, no one will use this."

This is bad because if no one uses the ideas presented in a workshop, the client will conclude that training doesn't work. And then the company might abandon all training.

Here are three important issues that determine the effectiveness of training.

1) People follow the leader. Any training program will be more successful if management supports it. This is why I always involve top executives in planning my workshops. I also ask them to attend. And I recommend follow-up sessions to review the material covered in the workshop. In fact, I only work with people who value and support learning.

Training has earned a bad reputation because many programs were just thrown over the fence at employees who were sent to be fixed. It's unlikely that any training program conducted under these conditions will accomplish much.

Key Point: Gain management support before scheduling any training program.

2) Each of us has control over our area of responsibility. And each of us lives in the environment that we create.

The participant mentioned above can conduct effective meetings, even if top management continues to hold bad meetings. In fact, someone who demonstrates sound leadership by holding effective meetings could end up replacing the boss who holds bad meetings.

There are two parts to every learning experience. The first part involves mastering new skills. The second (and critical) part involves choosing to use them.

Key Point: You can be an effective leader even when others aren't.

3) Some people play make-believe. Many years ago I received an evening phone call from a colleague who wanted to know if I could recommend a good book on how to hold effective meetings. It seems this person was scrambling to find material for a workshop that was scheduled to start the next morning.

You will learn more from an expert, rather than from someone who is delivering a book report. In this case, I recommended either of the two books that I had written on how to hold effective meetings.

Many companies hire trainers who build training programs based on books that they read. And some entrepreneurs agree to speak on topics that are purely academic for them. The best trainers ARE the message, which means that they live and breathe and use what they teach. They can answer any questions, meet any needs, help with any situations that the participants may bring up. They truly know their topic.

Key Point: Hire a trainer who wrote the book instead of one who (you hope) read a book.

Any training program can succeed, if delivered to people who want to improve by an expert who can show them how.

- - - - - - - -

IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and author Steve Kaye works with leaders who want to hold effective meeting. His innovative workshops have informed and inspired people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people will support. Call 714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 100 pages of valuable ideas. Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.stevekaye.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Times

Under New Management Why Should Recession Stop the Recruiters?
New York Times, United States - 13 hours ago
In a survey in early October of nearly 450 human resources officials by the Society for Human Resource Management, some 39 percent thought that future ...


AIG to Sell ILFC to Management Group, Udvar-Hazy Says (Update2)
Bloomberg - Nov 21, 2008
“We’re in the process of selling ILFC to a group of investors including management that will take back the company from AIG,” he said earlier at the ...
AIG to sell plane lessor ILFC to investors- report Reuters
all 27 news articles


Gothamist

UPDATE 1-Owners battle over fate of 65 Steve & Barry's stores
Reuters - Nov 21, 2008
... the new owners of Steve & Barry's -- investment firms Bay Harbour Management and York Capital Management -- filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday ...
Steve & Barry’s to liquidate Bizjournals.com
Steve & Barry's again files for bankruptcy Newsday
Steve & Barry's plans closing store at mall Monroenews.com
Bizjournals.com - Bizjournals.com
all 282 news articles


The Republican - MassLive.com

MassMutual Announces Promotions for Two Co-Chief Operating Officers
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
Bill has also proven his exceptional capabilities as a leader in the asset management business and in building strong financial services organizations," Mr. ...
MassMutual promotes pair in succession plan The Republican - MassLive.com
MassMutual Life promotes COOs Bizjournals.com
MassMutual Names New President Hartford Courant
Markets Media (press release) - MarketWatch
all 45 news articles


Cloudbreak Resources Ltd.: Amended and Restated Management ...
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
... the Company has, with the assistance of the BCSC, revised and re-filed its annual Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended April 30, ...


Orr Construction Management wins Greensburg streetscape contract
Bizjournals.com, NC - Nov 21, 2008
Kenny Orr, president of Raytown-based Orr Construction Management Inc., attends City Hall groundbreaking ceremonies Oct. 10 with Orr's Garden City-based ...


Dallas school officials missed, misread signs of deficit
Dallas Morning News, TX - 2 hours ago
For anyone trying to understand how the budget mess developed, Deloitte & Touche's 2006-07 audit – and its accompanying "Report to Management" – is a good ...


Target Corp. Won't Pursue Pershing Real-Estate Plans
Wall Street Journal - Nov 21, 2008
... structure ideas proposed by activist investor Pershing Square Capital Management LP, calling the potential value of the deal "highly speculative. ...
Target rejects Pershing's real estate proposal Reuters
Target rejects Pershing's proposals on real estate structure MarketWatch
Target Corporation Announces Decision on Real Estate Structure ... WELT ONLINE
Financial Times - MSN Money
all 417 news articles


Winning Management Lessons From the NFL
MSNBC - Nov 21, 2008
So when you find yourself scrambling for new clients or having to deal with a notoriously difficult employee, recall these seven management lessons that ...


Regional workshop on management of ship balance waters begins
Yemen News Agency, Yemen - 1 hour ago
... Presidency of Metrology and Environment Protection arrived on Sunday in Aden to take part in a regional workshop on management of ship balance waters. ...

management - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.