Fix the Broken Sprinklers: How to Keep Training Effective
Christopher Howell, U.S. Army (Retired)
Authorized DiSC Partner | Learning Transfer Expert |ATD San Antonio VP of Community Development | Committee Chair Military R.I.S.E.
This morning, I found myself outside fixing my water sprinklers. It’s March 1st, and in Texas, that means the heat is creeping back in. If I don’t maintain my lawn watering it, checking the system, making adjustments it’ll dry up fast.
As I worked, I noticed some sprinklers were broken and needed replacing, while others were watering the driveway instead of the grass. No matter how much water was flowing, if it wasn’t reaching the right areas, it was wasted. The grass needed water, but it wasn’t getting it so I had to fix the broken sprinklers, adjust the ones that were off-target, and ensure everything was properly covered.
The same goes for training.We need to check and adjust our training programs regularly to ensure learning is reaching the right people in the right way. Learners need reinforcement, just like grass needs water but if we don’t make adjustments, knowledge won’t take root, and training won’t have a lasting impact.
And just like a lawn, learning can’t be a one-time event it must be a continuous process. Too often, we train people and expect them to thrive without reinforcement. But without ongoing support, feedback, and real-world application, knowledge fades away.
Just like a neglected lawn, unmaintained learning leads to wasted effort.A training program can’t just be set and forgotten it needs adjustments, realignment, and reinforcement to drive real results.
In the military, we never trained once and called it good. We had drills, refreshers, and after-action reviews to ensure skills became second nature. The corporate world needs the same: follow-ups, coaching, and opportunities to apply what’s been learned.
?? Water Your Learners – Reinforce learning through coaching, feedback, and real-world application.
?? Adjust and Maintain Your Training Program – Regularly assess and refine it to ensure it reaches the right people and delivers impact.
If we neglect either one, we end up with dry grass and forgotten training.
Are we setting up our people for success or just hoping they retain it on their own?
Follow me Christopher Howell, U.S. Army (Retired)
Senior Adviser and Head of Impact and Evaluation at Promote
2 周The advice to check expected results and make adjustments is spot on. Simple and practical impact evaluation is not rocket science, takes little more technical expertise than adjusting lawn sprinklers. And you can do it from your desk. Extra payoff is you don’t just learn about the program you’re measuring; what you learn about the performance system factors that are af work applies to all your initiatives.