Focused Training = Solutions

We've all been to generic training sessions for various things.  We attend a class outside our facility, we use a self-paced web based tutorial, we join in remotely via the Internet, etc., etc.  There are a multitude of ways to get trained in a trillion different topics.  These are all good ways to get an introduction into a topic - to get some kick-start into learning it.  I don't believe they help you get to a real solution to something you are trying to accomplish.

I like to attend (or give) what I call "focused training".  What is foucsed training?  It's taking a specific issue or problem and addressing it through training the user.  An example - you know how to enter bill-of-materials, but every so often you need another one that is close to one you have.  The only way you know how to do it is by entering the entire bill from scratch.  This is time consuming and error prone.  Is there a better way to do this?  In most ERP systems there is probably a way to copy the bill from one product to another.  Then you can change only the parts that are different.  Focused training from an expert can help you learn this.

I think this type of training has 2 big advantages.  One, you learn things better when they have a purpose and, two, you solve an issue or a problem.

What are your thoughts about training, generic or focused?

Comments

[Paul Sita]

Mark Bullock, friend, colleague and a very smart and able consultant, now of Real Business Vision fame (www.realbusinessvision.com), once told me that "training" is something you do to a monkey, and education is what you do with people!

I think that this ties into the idea of focused training = education = solutions.

So let's get away from generic training. A lot of people who know me well know that I also hate the word "consulting", or rather I hate the connotation that it has. I prefer "helping". As consultants we help clients in a variety of ways. Educating them, and showing them how to do what they need to accomplish in an effective way - this is what training (not that word again) is supposed to be.

I'll have to write an entire post about words that turn people off.

[John Pellegrino]

We train monkeys, but educate people - I like that. I know Mark well enough to feel I can use this line when appropriate without any royalty payments. Thanks.

As to consultants that help educate, Paul has said many times that what we provide is knowledge transfer (not just training). And it occurs throughout the lifetime of the project. How? Keep all parties aware of what is going on and why at all times. In other words, communicate with them - often.

For me, there is no such thing as over communicating. I think I just introduced another subject for discussion.