Let's face it: no business can afford to send people for training just for the fun of it. There is an expectation that training will somehow impact upon an employee's ability to contribute positively to the business - we expect a return on our investment. Getting value from training is not rocket science however there are some general principles that need to be adopted to ensure that training results in positive changes in your workplace.

Training that adds value tends to be integrated with other management systems. Be prepared to change systems and procedures to reflect increased understanding and abilities gained through training. Employees acquiring new skills but being unable to change old procedures are not providing a return on your training investment. Training that adds value occurs when there is an infrastructure in place that supports the trainee's application of what has been learned.

Achieving real value from training requires planning, integration, follow up and infrastructure. While getting value from training should be a shared responsibility on the part of the employee and the principal/manager, only the latter can create the conditions which will guarantee this. Be prepared to make changes in order to receive the benefits.

It is important to communicate your expectations to employees before they attend training. For example:

• discuss how the trainee is expected to share what has been learned with other members of the team
• set a date for when you will meet with the trainee to discuss the training
• decide how and when the trainee should apply what they have learned and
• ask what the trainee needs from you to achieve the greatest benefit from their training.

Principals/Managers often may not take an active role in the decision making and follow up necessary to maximise the value of training. This may render training a waste of time and money. Principals/Managers need to work with employees before and after training to ensure it makes a difference and they receive a valuable return on their training investment.

These principles can make the difference between training that is just a "day out of the office" and training that brings about long term benefits and a truly valuable return on your training investment.

Console Training
Console provides a range of training solutions for your employees. Where classroom training is not available or practical, consultants are able to offer you onsite or remote training to ensure ongoing development.

To book Gateway training for your office contact:
T: 1300 131 311
E: support@console.com.au