Training Industry Blog

The U.S. Department of Labor has set aside millions in workforce development grants to help fund the education and training of workers. In other words, free money to do just what you’re doing already or help you do even more. Grants benefit the workers, the company and even your state and federal government. If you’re not already looking for a ticket to this gravy train, now is the time to climb on board.

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The most common approach to leadership (and management) development is still training-based—and most of it doesn’t work! The reason is that leadership training events and programs require connecting both the development of people and fundamental business processes for them to be successful. A variety of research studies reveal wake-up results for us to heed in adjusting the traditional classroom type of training events approach, whether delivered by a company or as part of a university program. Without follow-up coaching or connection to on-the-job performance only 10% of what is taught is actually applied on-the-job. By contrast, with coaching, performance gains of 50%-73% are commonly achieved. One might even ask whether leadership-management training/development is necessary. The answer is ABSOLUTELY since research shows that less than 10% typically use the approach required for success—let alone doing so effectively! Consistent with this, we have found over the decades that people identify less than 1 in 5 or more managers they have worked with to have been effective ones.

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According to a survey of training professionals, the most important characteristic of a GREAT training company is 'strategic alignment'. So what is strategic alignment? And is your supplier aligned to your needs? And how would you know when selecting a supplier if they have the capability to align to your needs?

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As a leading provider of healthcare and dental benefits, Humana typically deals with people experiencing pain, discomfort and other attributes of really bad days. While the services they administer help, what really soothes the nerves is Humana’s drive to create perfect customer service. It’s a mission that’s redefining training and reaping results.

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All of us have participated in training that we can say has positively changed our lives. Whether it was a one day workshop, an online seminar, apprenticeship program, or a college or university course, training changes how we think and act. I’m beginning research to learn what makes one training program so much better than others. Sure we all think that great instructional design is critical, and a good instructor makes the difference in delivery, or the quality of facilities impacts the learning experience, but what I’m really looking for are those defining characteristics that separates exceptional training programs from those that are very good. To get us started, I’ll share the two training programs that absolutely shaped my professional personality and influenced my career.

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Difficult economic conditions typically result in natural emotional reactions by most people—and the organizations their actions shape. Yet when faced with unresolved performance problems, such emotional responses typically will not reverse such struggling performance without identifying and/or differently executing other solutions required for success! Let me share a few real, current examples that illustrate this point.

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Training is often thought of as a defense mechanism for companies dealing with performance issues - especially when the problem involves the behavior and skills of lower level workers. How many times have you heard someone say that 'the problem wouldn't have occurred if the person was properly trained?" Or when talking about how to solve the problem, "we need to do more training!"

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Some of the most interesting, most vibrant learning is taking place in the military and in the healthcare industry. Both the military and healthcare are often early adopters in training methodologies, which is not surprising since in both worlds training is a matter of life and death. At HealthNet, a Fortune 200 health insurance company, one learning mission has taken on increased importance for a country at war.

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On July 3, four contract workers for a S.C. fireworks company were killed on Ocracoke Island in N.C. The state's insurance commissioner is calling for mandated certification training to help in preventing this from occuring again. Why is it we have to wait for the insurance commissioner to call for change?

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Every journey has to start somewhere, and the first stop for this Training Talk blog was the dining car, so to speak. I recently shared a few minutes on the phone with Matthew Herzberg, director of training and organizational development for Tyson Foods, Inc., the world’s largest poultry company. What started with John Tyson driving a truckload of chickens from Alabama to Chicago is now a multi-national giant with varied operations around the globe.

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