The Season

This is the season of training. It’s getting to the end of the year and certain continuing education requirements have to be met. So training is a priority. Yes, it’s the season of training.

While it may be the season of training, it’s not necessarily the season of learning. I explained the difference between the two it in a previous Message.

“Education without application is just entertainment.”

— Tim Sanders

But don’t worry. You’re safe. You don’t have to actually learn anything in training. As long as you got your name on the sign in sheet and you sat though the training, you’re fine. You did your part. Now you can say you were trained in something and even got credit for it. That’s what is necessary, right?

Managers and partners tell me of their irritation when their staff have been trained to do something and then submit their work with errors they should know how to do correctly.

“We went over this in training.”

“We did?”

“Yes. Don’t you remember?”

Hmm.

It’s almost humorous that they have to be reminded of the training they got credit for. But not to worry. They are safe. They did their part. Their name is on the sign in sheet.

“Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.”

— Leonardo da Vinci

The Learning

What was missed was the learning. They forgot that all the time, energy and cost that went into the training was the firm’s investment in their career. The investment was to benefit them, their family, their clients–which is the whole reason they chose a career in professional service in the first place.

When you attend a training, in addition to signing in and sitting through it, what if you

paid attention by engaging, participating and contributing?

discovered something that you could use?

created a plan to implement new knowledge, behavior or skill?

made an unforgettable plan by writing it down and making it visible so that you saw it every day?

told someone what you intended to do and asked them to check up on your progress?

kept track of when you implemented the plan and how you got better at it?

“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”

— Herbert Spencer

If you do these things, you will receive a benefit from your efforts, like feeling more confident and competent, getting recognition for improvement and obtaining a raise, bonus or promotion.

The next time you have a training opportunity, take full advantage of it. Remember it’s more than signing in.