Community Content

How to Train...when you're not sure what you're training?

By Stephania Spielman

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Bookmark

Community Content

Hi all,

I'm looking for some help with an issue I'm struggling with. I recently became a Training Manager for an group of specialized departments within an organization. This is a new role for them, not for me. When I attend meetings or have to create plans for this team, I usually begin by asking "What's the Goal of XYZ training?" and they don't know.

If they have no idea what they want out of the training (or if it even needs to be a training), I'm at a loss for how to help them other than asking more questions, which frustrates them. I believe we are getting close to a point where they are questioning why I'M even there.

What tools/tricks/suggestions do you have to help me help this team better define what they want out of a training plan?

With gratitude,

Fonya

7 Comments

Claudia Bessley-Hayes

February 20, 2019 08:31 AM

I'd get job descriptions for their key roles and do an analysis to identify the competencies they need. Then I'd ask to talk to a couple of top performers and have them tell me how they learned the job, what parts of it are more important than others, how long it took to learn when they were new, what they do a little differently than others, etc. Place all that next to the learning objectives for what they're doing now - and you've got an analysis that gives you a basis for discussion.

Sorry! Something went wrong on our end. Please try again later.

Courtney Wright

February 13, 2019 12:44 PM

It may be helpful to ask "what do you want people to know?" "What performance areas have you observed needs strengthening?" Have they conducted any assessments to identify gaps and areas of improvement? What is the overall goal of the organization and these departments? As you stated, there may not need to be a training for that particular area.

Sorry! Something went wrong on our end. Please try again later.

Kourtney Dunlap

February 12, 2019 03:44 PM

I would say you need a high-level discussion. Share your vision and your goal of what you want training to accomplish in general. What goal is the entire team trying to achieve? Maybe have each person share how they would add or change that goal to fit what they think as well so you all end with a real mission and purpose of what it is that you are trying to do. Then every training project you take on helps you to meet that mission or that goal. If it doesn't, then does it need to be a training?

Stephania Spielman

February 12, 2019 03:59 PM

Thank you so much, Kourtney. This is very helpful feedback and I think it will help in steering them towards a common goal. I appreciate your time and thoughtful response.

Sorry! Something went wrong on our end. Please try again later.