3 Key Questions To Ask Before You Design Your Next Training Solution

The next time a manager or sponsor asks you develop a training solution there are 3 key questions that you need to ask before you even consider designing the solution.

• The first 2 questions determine whether there really is a training need.
• The third question will help determine whether the training will succeed and have the impact on the organisation that it should have.

Question 1

Notice the question is phrased around DOING and not understanding or know.

Question 2

This question is designed to determine the reason they are not currently doing what the organisation needs them to do.  If the reason is anything other than:

“They don’t know how to do it”

Then training is not the right solution for the problem eg

If people know how to do something but are choosing not to do it, that’s a management issue not training.  You can offer as much training you like for these people, they will go back to the workplace and there will be no change (just like the last time) – until their manager starts to insist upon the change.

Question 3

Unless managers hold their people accountable for implementing what they learned, then there is very little chance of learning transfer from the training room to the workplace.  Only when you have commitment from the top will change take place.  Therefore, to ensure any training you design has a positive Return On Investment, make sure top managers drive the change.  If you don’t have this commitment, question why you would design this training or you get the support needed.  Often managers don’t realise the important role they play in transfer of learning into the workplace.