Get the Most from Your Training

March 7, 2010
Consider this four-step process.

The goal of any training should be to improve business results, says Ryan Hale, lead consultant with Stroud Consulting. The seemingly obvious nature of that goal sometimes can and does get forgotten by companies that instead get caught up in the excitement or the curiosity factor of new tools, he claims.

The best training, Hale says, has immediate measurable results (for example, generating a financial impact) and also lasting benefits, meaning that employees can apply those skills as their careers develop. He outlines a four-step process to making the most of an investment in training:

  1. Understand the goals of the business and the business results required to meet those goals.
  2. Determine the skills and the roles required to perform the work necessary to achieve the desired business results.
  3. Determine the training needed to close the skills gaps.
  4. Establish accountability in the organization to ensure that the people who received the training are applying their new skills to achieve the desired business results.

The first two steps apply rigor and discipline to the training investment process. Hale says he has observed organizations skip the first two steps and then forget the last, which ultimately "leaves people unhappy or unsatisfied with what they get for that investment in training."

See Also

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

How Manufacturers Can Optimize Operations with Weather Intelligence

Nov. 2, 2023
The bad news? Severe weather has emerged as one of the biggest threats to continuity and safety in manufacturing. The good news? The intelligence solutions that build weather ...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!