Training Expectations can be Risky Business
Lisa Hanberg of Haneberg Management poses some very interesting questions in relation to management training on her blog “Management Craft”
She starts by asking the question
“What ought to be the goal of management training?”
- To provide a lesson?
- To create a conversation?
- To create behavioural change?
Lisa also asks
“Who ought management trainers be?“
- People who can present material?
- People who can facilitate a great conversation?
- People who are themselves, effective managers?
She goes on to say
“I think we tend to favor training programs that offer a lesson and trainers who can present materials”
Why is this? , In my opinion the reason why this type of training delivery is both an easier sell for training providers and appears to be more attractive to companies seeking training is that our expectation of how learning works defaults to our own school and collage experience in which is primarily based on the offering lessons type delivery .
And Lisa states
“And of the items listed above, I think these are the least important goals and responsibilities”
So we are left with a type of catch 22 situation in that the company is looking to solve a skills problem but expecting a training solution that won’t lead to any behaviour change and so ultimately won’t solve the problem.
As the training expert, the trainer needs to manage the clients expectation of how learning works and often it is necessary to tell them that the training solution they are seeking will not solve their problem. This however has risks attached for the trainer in that the client may not be prepared to move outside of their comfort zone. When you consider that the trainer is competing for the business with other training providers, it is easy to see why some trainers lack the courage to do so.
The flip-side however is that in offering training programmes that result in behaviour change leading to increased productivity, the training provider is much more lightly to enjoy a longstanding relationship and further repeat business from the very same client.
Posted by Niall
Tags: business training, management training, training aims, training courses, training evaluation, training objective, training objectives