Research reveals some dismaying trends in the Professional Development and Training and Development industry.
Training and development not meeting needs
I feel disturbed to discover that quality programs and providers are being overlooked in favour of promises of “quick fixes” that are delivered “cookie cutter” style, with little or no regard for the ROI of the employer or the long term engagement and development of the worker.
The surveys show that many organisations, managers and Training and Development Managers are either taking expensive shortcuts in their attempts to develop their people or are completely misinformed about what really takes to activate peak performance.
Survey results
A. Here’s what people who want to win at work, who want to maximize their professional performance said in the surveys about the value of the training and development courses and programs their managers arranged for them:
- Not related to the overall career development plan of participant
- No choice for participants – one size fits all is very common
- Training & Professional Development is not related to the current role
- Not matched with talents, strengths and interests
- No ongoing support to integrate the new development into existing work practices
- No time allocated to integrate the new learning into existing work practices
- Training added to time pressures, rather than creating efficiencies
- Information overload from courses added to the fear of burning out
What has been your experience of professional development courses and programs as a worker?
B. Here’s what managers who are seeking Training and Development Providers for their people stated these unmet needs:
- How to keep their workers motivated and on task
- How to communicate so their people get the message
- How to manage information overload for themselves and their team
- How to be certain the training provider will deliver “best practice”
- How to get the best value for their dollars invested in Training and Development
- How to ensure the T & D will have a positive impact on business results
What has been your experience of professional development courses and programs as a manager?
Can cookie cutters create real stars?
Managers and business owners want their people to be motivated, to give the best of themselves at work. At the same time, the great majority of workers want to release their talents and achieve their professional potential. Both groups share a similar goal … yet neither is getting what they want on a consistent basis!
So, what’s the solution?
I believe that managers who aspire to become Maximized Managers need education in how to:
- Start matching the learning needs of their workers, as a group AND as individuals, with the organisation’s goals
- Start identifying the characteristics of “best practice” adult education programs
- Start Integrating new learning into existing management plans and work practices
- Stop treating the people on the teams as clones.
So I am in the process of writing a short, practical and readable report, “The Managers’ Guide to Choosing a Professional Development Provider.” I’ll let you know when it’s available for download.
“The Managers’ Guide to Selecting a Best Practice Professional Development Provider”
This unique document will be available soon …