I’m fairly confident that most of us have, at some point, wondered why we’re completing training. It may have been while we were in education. Alternatively, it may have happened in the course of employment. There is also the possibility that you voluntarily signed up for some training as part of a hobby or interest. And, how was it for you? I know that I’ve attended training events which were hugely interesting. Others, less so. Whatever the setting, it is, though, important to get the most from it. So, embrace the powerful value of training for more.
The odd one or two training events may have left you wondering what you did wrong to lose time which you’ll never regain. That said, I think it’s rare to attend a training event where you learn absolutely nothing. Even if the learning that you know your subject really well!
Of course, particularly in work, others direct you to attend training, irrespective of whether you’re interested or not. Indeed, I’m sure that some of you, like me, had managers tell you at the start of the year which trainings to attend and when to get them done. Some, of course, may feel relevant and appear interesting. Others, less so.
And, I’ll be honest, I’ve attended some because I have to, and I’ve paid little attention. Consequently, I’ve taken little away. Further to this, while I can generally be well-behaved, I’ve experienced trainings where some are present who really don’t want to be. They make it very clear. This leads them to be disruptive, with attempts to undermine the trainer and distract the delegates.
Some years ago I worked for an organisation which started to take the view that people should only attend trainings if they were interested or wanted to. The one exception was training directly relevant to their role. The thinking was that if you attended a training that interested you or was relevant to you, you were more likely to engage and more likely to learn.
This, of course, is true. And as I write this, I can think of many managers and multiple employers who are likely to be somewhat apoplectic at the prospect. How on earth can we tick the box to show that we have trained our staff? And that, for me, is the crux of the issue. If training is merely a tick-box exercise, is it really worth the effort?
Obviously, training goes beyond work. There is a plethora of courses out there for everything under the sun, from the wacky to the seriously intense. This includes formal learning with qualifications, to courses aligned with hobbies and interests.
It’s not just the quantity of courses but the variety of ways that the leaning can be done. From short, self-directed online courses, often for little or no money, to lengthy residential courses which can end up being very expensive.
Undoubtedly, you’re likely to show greater interest and make more effort if you’re choosing the course, and how and when to do it.
Realistically, though, it comes down to the same point. There is always choice, irrespective of the reasons behind the training and learning. If you chose the job, you sort of have to accept the training and learning the comes with it. Not always easy to accept, I know.
Finally, one of the prime directives of the unconscious mind is to seek more and more. It’s a throw-back to times when having a bit more food, a slightly better place to sleep, a few more people around you increased your chances of survival. Training and learning, though, satisfy that need for more.
So, the next time you sign up for some training, think about this. Are you attending because you want to or because you have to? If you’re attending because you want to, great. You see the benefits of increasing your skills, which in turn affects what you do. Ultimately, this leads to better results. If, on the other hand, you’re attending because you have to, perhaps it’s time for a reframe. What can you get from the training that increases your knowledge and skills? How will this affect your performance? And, what new results might you get?
If you know what to do, do it now. However, if you’re not sure, you can always sign up for an initial consultation here. You know it makes sense, and you know that you can do it, don’t you?
