Organising a good training is not easy. We know this well as we have seen the stress many personnel in charge of training are going through. One of the greatest challenges comes from having staff who are not enthusiastic about training. If you can understand the reasons why they respond the way they do, things may just turn around. Of the seven reasons highlighted here, three relate to the trainers and the four concern planning and communications.
- The Boring trainers
There are just too many trainers who are really uninteresting. Recalling the days in college where the lecturers rattled on while students struggled to stay awake, these lecturer-trainers strike the cord of boredom immediately. Many employees switch off (mentally) while others switch to their mobile or laptop for some work… or games. - The Talk Down trainers
A scenario worse off for some is a trainer talking to the participants as though they were kids. Too accustomed to pedagogy, many trainers are still not trained in andragogy – Adult Learning. There are very different ways in engaging adults as compared to children. - The Shallow trainers
Then we have trainers who have mastered the art of waffling. They have forgotten (or never knew) that today’s participants are well read and discerning. Staff are usually engaged when they are learning new things especially those that are useful and applicable to both life and work. - “I’m sent for training because I have a problem”
In an organisation where the culture of staff development is weak, employees often feel that they are sent to attend training because they have problems or weaknesses. This mindset leads to people being negative and defensive during training. - Untimely or during busy period
Perhaps it is a rigid schedule. Perhaps the training budget must be spent by a certain date. Untimely training carried out during peak periods or near major deadlines can be a big put off for staff. This is a common problem in organisation where the staff planning the training and the staff attending it are miles apart. - Disconnected training plans and work application
Disconnected and fragmented training do not go well with staff when they cannot see the link between what they are doing and learning. This is usually the case where there is no proper staff development roadmap. - Double standards between what is expected and what is observed
At times, employees feel that whatever they are told to do are not being practised by those at the top. This is a very sensitive but real issue that should be addressed. Whether real or perceived, the best education is caught, not taught.
There are ways to solve these problems at the roots.
Get Good Trainers
Good trainers are those who truly understand what your organisation is going through and know how to infuse the solutions skillfully into the training sessions. They do not just transfer knowledge. They influence behaviours, instill positive attitudes and inculcate desirable values that are important to the organisation. They can make the most boring subjects interesting. They can turn strangers into friends. And all these are essential in a training session. Does it cost more to book good trainers? That goes without saying. However it is definitely worth the premium. But not all who try to charge high are good trainers. So you should always check their track records and testimonies.
Understand Your People
Some organisations manage to successfully build a culture where training is something that the staff look forward to. Most do not enjoy that reception. But not all is lost and you can still organise successful training sessions which will eventually change the mindset of staff towards training. First avoid the typical announcement for training or workshops. You need to promote it and that means using creative ways to attract their attention and arouse their interest. Even great movies do not sell by themselves but require trailers. Next, understand what motivate your people then infuse these into the training. Remember that training cannot benefit an organisation significantly unless it first benefits the participants. One more important point is to ensure blended learning is taking place especially when your staff is made up people with wide age gap. The training methodology must be able to cater to the young who likes to get to the point as well as the old who likes sharing. Having said that, one common element that everyone enjoys is fun. Good trainers know how to weave in experiential activities that are enjoyable while staying relevant to the topic. Be careful though as there are others who overdo it by asking participants to jump up and down, raise their hands every other minute and do other uncomfortable and unrelated stuff which put the people off. So look for good trainers, not entertainers (or entertrainers), who understand your people.
Transform Your Organisation
Yes, as someone taking care of training, you have the power to transform your organisation more than many others. You have to believe in yourself and in your people. Being positive is one of the most important traits for someone who is involved in developing others. There is a lot more to share. Contact us today and let us help you make your next training an awesome one.
