The problem of business training… and how to solve it

How many of us have attended work-based training?

I’d imagine, everyone who’s reading this blog right now. And if you haven’t, you should probably ask your manager what’s gone wrong because training is vital to every workplace. Not only does it increase our knowledge, enhance our skills and reduce our weaknesses – thereby improving our performance and making us more effective and confident in our roles – ongoing training also adds other significant value to the business. It enhances productivity, it encourages creativity and upskilling, and when the training is done properly it can even reduce staff turnover. When somebody realises their employer is investing in their development, they feel more valued and secure and their sense of loyalty to the company is increased. On the flipside, a long-term project commissioned by Middlesex University’s Work and Learning Research Centre1discovered that – from a sample of 4,300 workers – 74% believed they weren’t achieving their full potential at work due to lack of training and development opportunities, and research has also shown that 40% of employees who don’t receive the necessary job training to become effective will leave their positions within the first year.

So, if we’re all agreed that training is important… what’s the problem? I’m glad you asked.

Everybody’s Different

We’re all unique, and we all experience training differently. Some people react negatively to training because they feel as if they’re being forced back into the classroom, so if the training doesn’t engage them they’ll simply switch off. Some people respond better in a one-to-one environment than a group learning situation, so they need more time to feel comfortable before they can relax and take the training onboard. Some people, especially those who have been doing their job for a while, may find it harder to accept new ways of doing things. Others may need some extra time to consolidate their learning after the training is over. It’s called human nature and it’s the reason why training, on its own, doesn’t work for the majority even when it’s well presented and informative and the attendees can see why you or your company have invested in it.

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