The Employee Training Revolution - Part 2
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| A revolution requires an evolution of thinking. |
Revolution Is A Powerful Word
Revolution is one powerful word. If you look at how that word has been manifested through-out history - the activity surrounding it has been undeniable.
So, I can realistically and humbly say the title of these series of posts haven't reached revolutionary status yet. BUT, it should be! If you haven't read part 1 - you can access here.
Why? I have had a unique, birdseye view of the state of training over the past 13 years. I have been engaged in training and coaching employees across every business section and every state and major city in the U.S. via the public seminar industry. And yes, I could tell you stories...from the bad, crazy employee or manager story to what the typical employee really thinks of HR.
At the beginning of 2012, I made a very difficult decision to exit the industry and in some ways I miss the ear to the ground eduction I would receive. But honestly, I know enough of some critical truths that fuels my next professional chapter.
One critical truth is Employee Training & Development must change! Why?...because this is what I've consistently heard for the past 13 years no matter what part of the country I've been in. I won't expound. I'll just state them as I've heard them:
1. Corporate training on the whole sucks
2. It's boring
3. I usually try to figure out a way to get out of it
4. It's too long
5. I wish I could get what I needed quicker, better, faster
6. What's the point
7. I had to come
8. I was sent when the person who really needed to come is not here.
9. It's like torture sitting all day in a classroom
Now as a colleague, I sympathize. I've met many HR professionals who are swamped with little to no support; who are thrown into roles or have inherited the sweeping responsibility.
Here's the point - over the 13 years I've traveled, I've heard the same stories about training even with moderate changes with the entrée of e-learning, webinars, etc.; as well as unrelenting stories about bad managers and crazy employees that we can't fire because of the fear of litigation.
All of this served to birth a desire to initiate change in the industry and experience of the everyday employee. You might even call it disruptive innovation.
So, What About The Revolution
I looked up the meaning of revolution in Websters and below is part of that definition. Pay careful attention to it. It's clear from much of the language in that definition we are no where near a "revolution" in employee training. (Perhaps my title is more a statement of hope :-)....)a : a sudden, radical, or complete changeb : a fundamental change in political organization; especially: the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governedc : activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situationd : a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm <the Copernican revolution>e : a changeover in use or preference especially in technology <the computer revolution> <the foreign carrevolution>
What's instructive here, is to see clearly what a revolution should look like and what's really required.
The bottom line?....substantive change in how we must approach, view, and execute what we want to have happen - even to the point where some might call it radical!
The good news is technology has advanced to the point to become a useful partner should we choose to go there.
I know this is a more theoretical post. Each reader will interpret it based on what's going on in their world.
Collectively, I hope as HR professionals we all are experiencing fundamental shifts in our beliefs that training employees, training as we have known it must change! And, that we as HR professionals must equip ourselves to participate in that in our part of the universe, providing the leadership so desperately needed to make a difference for our profession, our internal and external customers, and our company's bottom line.
If you'd like for someone to take a fresh look at your training plan - where you might be able to save money, initiate more effective solutions, email me and we can set up a time to talk - joann@joanncorley.com
JoAnn Corley is an Employee Training & Development Specialist, who has spent the last 13 years of her career conducting seminars, workshops, keynotes, and coaching across North America.
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