Epic Fail and Training and Development

It is Monday morning and I decided to spend 10 timed minutes on www.failblog.com to get a few laughs before getting down to some work. If you haven't visited this site before take a look. It is worth a few wasted minutes. (But put on a timer, if you don't before you know it 45 minutes have passed you by!)

The same thinking: epic fail can be applied to training and development programs every day at organizations across the universe. The reasons are many, too many for my short and sweet blog post today. So, I am going to focus in on three of the reasons we run into again and again and again. Hopefully by just articulating these three other organizations can avoid the same pitfalls.

#1 There must be "buy in" at every level of the organization for training and development programs

AND signing the check does not count as buy in. Buy in means that decision makers, leaders, managers, team leaders see VALUE in providing training and development. This is evident in their participation, encouraging others to participate, talking about the program outside of isolated training moments etc. People at the bottom of the food chain in an organization take their lead from those above them. If they don't ever see the decision makers participating or talking about training and development, the message is "this is not truly important"

#2 You NEVER graduate

Decision makers, leaders, managers & team leaders are most often the people who need professional training and development THE MOST. Yet, many of these people don't participate. Some of our favorite reasons: "I don't need anymore training and development. By virtue of being in this leadership position that indicates I am already fully developed. I graduated", "Oh yeah that is great stuff ya'll are doing there but I am just way too busy to attend" and my absolute favorite? "I already know all the stuff you teach" The reality is that when the people who work for above excuse makers get in the room with us they ALWAYS ask us "is my manager going to have to go to this workshop?" And then a room full of knowing glances are exchanged among everyone, a few chuckles and if they are feeling really frisky they will SHARE with us the major instances of their leader not acting so great.

#3 Training and Development does NOT happen
in a Vacuum

The last one worth mentioning is that T&D does not happen in a vacuum. Like all good things, these programs must be reinforced all the time. As an outside consulting firm who comes into your organization and works with you and your team, our ability to impact this area is minimal. Participants can keep up with us by way of our website, blog, facebook page etc but that only goes so far. The reinforcement happens on the front lines. Leaders, managers, team leaders, decision makers all play a very important role in the success of a program. We have walked into an office before only to have looks from decision makers that read "what are you guys doing here?" because they have NO IDEA what is happening in the way of T&D efforts. And NEVER EVER NEVER think for a moment that the people who do participate don't know full well that their leaders are NOT PLUGGED in. They know. They tell us.

So, if you are in fact a decision maker in your organization I hope this is a little food for thought for you on this Monday morning. And here's hoping you have no Epic Fails this week.