Do You Have Weatherman Training? **(see note below)
The 2009 Randstad World of Work survey highlights how corporations are putting a greater emphasis on retaining and motivating current employees. The same survey also reveals that employees feel that corporations aren’t providing enough training and development opportunities. Now factor in the July 24th increase of the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and the whole perception of employee retention changes.
NEWSFLASH – Greater Emphasis on Training & Development in Future
In the UK, Canada and Australia it's the same story. This is a giant, humongous, world-class opportunity to blow the dust off the traditional ideas and take a different approach to training, development and performance. Forget the instructional design axioms. Forget “tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them and then tell them you told them.” Forget repetition, repetition, and repetition. Take three giant steps away from education and towards results.
Just imagine what would happen if we put the emphasis firmly on results and then worked backwards to develop the total experience?
Just imagine what would happen if we balanced positive outcomes, measurement metrics and a pragmatic creative approach?
Just imagine what would happen if the programs, seminars, webinars and classes sounded exciting, interesting and promised valuable results and positive changes … and didn’t sound as riveting as a college syllabus?
Rethink Training and Push Performance
- Rethink it all and focus on performance and results that help the organization attain business objectives, like increase revenue, control costs and improve productivity.
- Develop a performance management system that integrates training and development.
- Design programs, seminars, webinars and classes that are results driven and develop real-world metrics to measure the impact.
- Focus the curriculum more on behavioral modifications than simple skill building. The goal is adding value to your organization’s competitiveness.
- There is an underlying marketing aspect to everything. Make it a branded experience and not a generic one. Beyond communication, market the information to build and sustain interest and mobilize people into action.
- Realize that the programs, seminars, webinars and classes are an extension of your company and have a direct influence on its image. Whether it’s a corporate employee or a client, customer, franchisee, owner or user, each person expects the same consistency and value that you provide in all of your products and services.
What are your tools? Look beyond the same one’s we’ve used for 10 years or more. Web-based training isn’t new. Video-based training isn’t new. Weatherman training isn’t new. Your audiences watch television, go to the movies and play video games. They aren’t impressed by PowerPoint and won’t cut us any slack just because it’s a “corporate” project.
Rethink, Repurpose, Reintroduce
Spiral Learning - The video game industry revolutionized how generations of people relate to technology. Game designers utilize a strategy known as Spiral Learning that uses experience to create a framework that builds in repetition, reinforcement, and new concepts. Instead of focusing on one subject at a time, the lessons spiral among topics, ensuring learners stay fresh and continue to build on each skill area.
Blended Learning – Let’s face it, there are topics that work best electronically and others that require live interaction. Prioritize the information and use a blend of techniques to generate the desired results. When the economy is uncertain, pure web-based training looks very attractive because it’s economical. It isn’t always the best decision. Why? Please see The Ultimate Reality in this blog. All will be revealed.
Information Marketing – Even if your participants are required to take the training, please don’t make it sound as exciting as watching a person you hate, flossing his teeth. Market the experience! Emphasize the interaction, involvement and personalization. Remind participants what they have to gain from investing the time. Market how much participants will enjoy it. If all the materials about the programs, seminars, webinars and classes sound dull and boring, you will have trouble generating the results you need.
Let’s declare 2010 the New Generation of Performance Management. The best news is, you are in on the ground floor.
*** Weatherman Training - A talent stands in front of a green screen as key words and Powerpoint graphics appear behind him - just like the weather map. The camera shot doesn't change. The advantage is it's inexpensive and fast to produce. The disadvantage is the lack of visual interest and involvement for the participant. It works best in short, 2-minute clips.
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Andy Johnston is an multi-faceted communication professional with deep experience from strategic planning, to messaging, to marketing, to media, to events, to training, to creative direction … and there are several other ”to’s.” Andy is known for his energy, creativity and his unique ability to discover the key results that must be generated – and then to develop ingenious ways to engage and motivate audiences. Positive business results are the objective. He believes that one of the most important results is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Andy is a principal partner at Think! Consulting Group and The Idea Group.
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