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 is critical, and a good instructor makes the difference in delivery, or the quality of facilities impacts the 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.
In 1981, after graduating with a degree in marketing, I began my professional career with Milliken and Company, a large textile manufacturing company in Spartanburg, S.C. Standard training for management trainees was a 9 week Management Orientation Program (MOP) at the corporate headquarters. Classroom topics included Milliken corporate philosophy, industrial engineering, financial management, operations management, basic textile processes, memory training, public speaking, site visits to many of Milliken’s plants, and one week of Freedom School.
There are many things about this program that I could tell you made a difference to me. But the one thing I take from that experience is that it taught me how to think as a leader. For nine whole weeks, or 45 days, the comprehensiveness of the program exposed me to more information about the company that I considered imaginable. Did it teach me everything I need to know to be a leader? Of course not – no program can. What it did was help teach me to think as a leader. Roger Milliken’s philosophy was that he couldn’t provide enough training to prepare us for every situation, but he could expose us to new ways of thinking to help us learn ‘how to think’; so when the situation arose, we were better prepared to handle that situation. In a spiritual way, I think what he really wanted to do was to teach me how to ‘fish’. And I’ve always thought this to be the fundamental principle of leadership training.
The second program that absolutely changed my life was the 20 months I spent at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. From January of 2001 until August of 2002, I spent two days every other weekend with 109 other executives/students learning from some of the best business faculty in the world. Many of our professors were past corporate executives, others some of the most published and learned business educators. I had the opportunity to meet CEO’s and top executives from companies like General Motors (Richard Waggoner), Rubbermaid, Reebok, and many more. But what stands out to me about this program are the relationships formed with many of my fellow classmates. Many of these people are still close friends. And if it wasn’t for this program, our lives probably would never have crossed.
For some reason, I’ve learned that there is something special about learning with a group over a long period of time. Experience tells me it creates a bond that is hard to separate. Maybe it’s the element of continuity. Maybe it is something psychologists and sociologists can teach us about learning with groups as opposed to learning alone. Not sure…but I do know the two most powerful training programs I’ve ever participated in involved studying with a continuous group of people over a long period of time. I’m hoping to learn more about this in my research.
And I hope you will tell me about yours. In the comment window below, please tell us about the training program that is the most influential program in your life, and the characteristic that made it special. Or if you would like to send me a note about what makes training special, feel free to send me a note at dharward@trainingindustry.com.
