Training - A Return On Investment - Part-3

Why Invest on Training?
One common thing most successful companies throughout the world have is their wholehearted commitment to regular and on-going training and development of people in every area and at every level of the organization. For companies with similar products or services, often the only differentiating factor is people. Their development, via skills and training, is one of the most effective investments a company can make.
The development of people benefits both them and the organization. It enhances the knowledge and skills of your personnel as well as increasing their motivation. Potential that may have gone unrecognized is uncovered and developed.
Training makes the employees and the management mutually beneficial. When the management invests on training for the mutual, they can

• expand their productivity
• increase efficiency
• grow profits
• motivate staff
• improve staff retention
• reduce absenteeism
• enhance customer service

If they do not have their own training resources, using an external organization can provide the employees with the skills and tools to do their job more effectively and ultimately increase a company's sales, profits and productivity.
If they already have their own training facilities, external input can complement and enrich their own training program through the introduction of new ideas and approaches. It can also challenge existing thinking and mindsets.
When you expect a result and good result, you also need to make sure that the entities requesting the results should also contribute on the investment. When a trainer and trainee involved in training expect a good result, then they should have invested something on their part. It’s not only them but also the management, responsible for the trainer and trainee to invest in their part to expect a result from the trainer or trainee or both.

However, it is a continuing part of successful companies who understand that training does not cost, it pays. It pays through training by troubleshooting costly problems, as well as decrease turnover, as employees understand the investment the company is making in them. This endeavor, if done well, will keep the focus on smooth operations that, in the end, contribute to the success of the company

What To Invest
The trainees have an attempt “attending” the training without fail. A trainer has to “deliver” the subject matter to end users then ensure that they can focus the training on that particular aspect. Additionally, the trainer will offer constructive feedback without de-motivating the individuals concerned. Once the training course has been completed, the trainer will ensure that certificates of “attendance/qualification” have been produced for the individuals.

The trainee invests in attendance where as the trainer invest on delivery. So they both get a result qualification. In this way, none of them will be overwhelmed and but everyone will have successfully completed the training session with a sense of personal pride and achievement.

Investment For A Trainer
The successful trainer must play many roles, possess specific qualities, and deal with the preconceptions of the learner when presenting a training session. The trainer must be professional, and not let personal problems or issues hinder the training process. Each element of a training session must be successfully navigated in order for a trainer to be a great trainer. A trainer should invest in the following

S Subject Knowledge
P Patience
O Organized
T Training Skills
E Empathy
R Results Focused

Subject Knowledge - Obviously a trainer must know the subject well but also ensure that the training provided is completely relevant to the needs as well as the trainees. To do justice, the trainer must have direct, first hand, experience in the subject and not just rely on theories or secondary knowledge gained over a period of time.

A trainer should have great enthusiasm for the subject and should be capable of putting it across in such an interesting way that it becomes 'transferable'.
It is not possible for a trainer to know everything there is about a particular topic and there will be certain gaps in their knowledge. However, the trainer must have the integrity to let the trainees know about any limitations or gaps in their knowledge rather than bluff their way through things.

Also the trainer should ensure that any outstanding questions from trainees would be replied promptly and the solutions delivered to them earliest opportunity. The integrity of the trainer is not shaken when he or she is true to their job. I always like the trainers when they admit what they don't know. It is better to be frank about your shortcoming.

Patience - The very fact that someone is undergoing training means that they do not know the subject or certain components of it. Trainees will have varying degrees of aptitude for the intended training too.

“An important part of training and learning is having the opportunity to make mistakes, learn from them, and correct them the next time you try. A trainer needs a great deal of patience. When the trainee makes a mistake, the trainer can immediately jump and correct the mistake. Rather, if the trainer allows time and space for the trainee to understand and learn then it makes the trainee learn the best.

Therefore your trainer should have plenty of patience to ensure that all individuals complete the course satisfactorily. They will have the flexibility to respond to trainees' different learning styles and be skilled enough to differentiate the training sessions so that the slower ones reach their goals whilst the more advanced trainees will be given more challenging exercises to get to master.

Organized - A trainer must be well organized to the extent where the training session has been planned in advance. There is nothing much worse than having a training session which is run 'off the cuff'. Also a good trainer will have the session organized so that all of the intended topics have been covered within the time schedule.

“The successful trainer is well organized, and has clear scripts and well-defined aims and objectives which enable individuals and groups to bring to the surface abilities and skills that they may not have recognized in themselves.”

During the session a trainer will have put together assessments so that the individuals can track their own progress throughout the training session.
Also a trainer should be able to produce good quality training material which reinforces the elements of the session(s) so that the trainees can review the content long after the training and still be able to recall the main concepts.

Training Skills - A trainer should have good communicational skills, by which I mean a good standard of written and verbal skills that would help their subject matter to be demonstrated and explained in a clear, accurate manner. Communication is not an exact science. A person who can communicate well with certain groups may not be so successful when dealing with others. A trainer should be able to adapt quite easily and differentiate the training to suite the needs and aspiration of the trainees.

The trainer should also be able to convey the subject matter to beginners without the need for unnecessary jargon and also be able to adjust the level of training to suite the more advanced trainees too. Therefore your trainer will be able to 'speak the same language' as the intended audience.

There is a well known quotation by Benjamin Franklin in which all good trainers will be acquainted with “Tell me and I will forget, Show me and I might remember, Involve me and I will understand!” It is important that trainees leave the training session with an understanding on how the facts and theories relate to real life issues and can be put to immediate effect.

A good trainer will be confident but not overconfident. Over confident trainer will rarely be able to communicate at the same level as the trainees and normally display a patronizing manner. A trainer should also be good performers and make the training sessions interesting or even entertaining. In this way it becomes evident that the trainer is genuinely interested in learning and teaching their subject.

Above all, a good trainer should have a keen sense of humor which will help provide a warm and friendly atmosphere during the training session. This is particularly important when the unexpected happens and the training session does not go according to the original plan

Empathy - A good trainer should have a genuine interest in people and easily relate to their needs, aspirations and frustrations. Having such an interest the trainer will be able to get on well with them regardless of status, age, abilities or backgrounds. “Effective training requires the trainer to put himself or herself in the position of the learner. Those who cannot demonstrate empathy and care do not make good trainers.”

The trainer will have an aptitude for noticing whenever a trainee has a problem or difficulty but are too shy or afraid to ask for assistance. The trainer should be warm and approachable, which would make the trainees feel completely at ease.

Result Focused - The trainer, though focused on the needs of the trainees also should understand the needs of the organization and management. For training and development to have its value, a trainer must make sure that it is directed towards the business objectives of the organization.”

One of the key factors of good training events is the motivation of trainees. A good trainer will ensure that this is achieved regardless of the individuals' self-esteem or confidence. The trainer will actively encourage collaboration and team work between them to the extent where they are actively involved in idea generation and problem solving.