Everyone\u2014including me\u2014has questions they are afraid ask. But instead of asking ourselves hard questions and dealing with the answers, we often find ways to bury the questions temporarily. They are still there, however. And every once in a while, they rear their ugly heads until we suppress them again, often by getting busy (or busier). So what are you choosing for 2017? Here are some choices you can make, and I challenge you to do so:<\/p>\n
As training and performance consultants\u2014 whether internal or external\u2014what are the questions you are afraid to ask? Here are some possible examples:<\/p>\n
Perhaps you have nagging questions regarding how to improve performance, but you intuitively feel the work required would be too overwhelming, and you don\u2019t have the clout to pull it all off. So why start down that path in the first place?<\/p>\n
Are there projects that you know, if implemented, would skyrocket results? But when would you have time to flesh everything out or even begin another project? So the projects get suppressed, but thoughts of them keep coming back over and over again.<\/p>\n
Are there training programs you currently offer that are screaming to be redesigned? You know there are better ways to get people involved and keep them energized. Are there other ways you and your people could apply your skills and knowledge that would increase your impact and value to the organization\u2014such as teaching project management, how to facilitate meetings, or how to make meetings more effective through increased interaction? But organizing that knowledge isn\u2019t something you or your team have the energy for right now.<\/p>\n
Are there training programs you think (or know) should be dropped? They\u2019ve outlived their usefulness, but you\u2019re afraid to express that opinion\u2014especially since some of the programs are \u201csacred.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve learned what \u201cscrap learning\u201d is, but perhaps you\u2019re afraid to look at the results of your own programs for fear that the scrap learning would be even higher than the 80 percent average. So you stick with the end-of-course evaluations that show 95 percent of the people loved it!<\/p>\n
You know that transfer of training isn\u2019t happening as often as it should, but you\u2019re afraid to ask, \u201cWhat can we do to improve the transfer of training?\u201d<\/p>\n
Have you asked yourself these questions? Had these thoughts? Be honest now. A part of you knows that if you allow yourself to be quiet and work on these things, they would result in a positive impact on your organization.<\/p>\n
So do something about it! Make a commitment to spend just five to 10 minutes each day exploring one of these questions and jotting down the beginnings of answers.<\/p>\n
Also, pose these questions to others on your team, and create a bulletin board\u2014either physical or online\u2014where people can post their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll be amazed at what just five minutes a day can do to create momentum that in six months provides answers, plans, projects, and programs that get implemented.<\/p>\n
Until next issue, continue to add value and make a difference.<\/p>\n
Bob Pike, CSP, CPLP FELLOW, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame, is known as the \u201ctrainer\u2019s trainer.\u201d He is the author of more than 30 books, including \u201cCreative Training Techniques Handbook\u201d and his newest book, \u201cThe Master Trainer\u2019s Handbook.\u201d You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook using bobpikectt.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Make a commitment to spend just five to 10 minutes each day exploring one of these questions and jotting down the beginnings of answers. Doing so will create momentum that in six months provides answers, plans, projects, and programs that get implemented.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[26],"class_list":{"0":"post-10784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-trainer-talk","8":"magazine_issues-march-2017"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n