I would like to discuss training for a bit.

Do you do training in your business? Even if you’re an army of one you should be doing some kind of training! In my opinion if you stop learning – or training yourself – you will stop advancing. Some of you will think that is no more to learn or train on, I disagree. Business is changing so fast, new methods and concepts are being produced at a dizzying rate that to fail to train is training to fail.

Why do we train? What’s the point? What kinds of training are there? I believe there are four general categories of training:
• Training to learn a new skill
• Training to reinforce or sharpen an existing skill
• Training to help accomplish a task, goal or objective
• Training to gain understanding (Sexual Harassment Training, Hostile Environment Training, etc.)

Now the above types of training can be commingled – you could train to learn a skill, which will help you accomplish a task and so on.

Can anyone give me a valid business reason for not doing training? I can’t think of one myself. If any of you think you do have a reason, please let me know. But bear in mind that “I don’t have time”, “It’s too expensive” and “It’s a low priority” are not valid business reason, they are justifications or excuses.

There are is a side benefit or byproduct of training; if you are training your staff then you will learn the subject matter better. If one of your staff people are doing the training then the will learn the subject matter better.

Training must have a specific point. There must be a clear and well defined reason or point (or benefit to the business) for the training. Your training should support your efforts to accomplish a Strategic Objective. If it does not, why is the training being done? Training for training sake is intellectually dishonest.

Training, whether it is to train yourself or to empower and increase your subordinate’s skills, is the essence of leadership.

In the future postings we review how long takes to learn a new skill and training plans.