\n\tTough economic times bring out some of the scariest mandates in American business: Become lean and mean. Trim the excess fat. Do more with less. Training departments are not above these directives, however stopgap they may seem.<\/p>\n
\n\tLike other corporate functions, Training is told to prove it makes a difference or have its budget sliced. Training is told to contribute to the bottom line and stay focused on that goal or be ignored by line managers who must buy\u2014 literally and figuratively\u2014what you have to offer. Training is told to get people in and out of the classroom faster because employees are too busy to spend a lot of time learning. The mandate to Training is: \u201cTeach them a lot, fast…and then let them go do their work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tCarry that mentality to an extremist\u2019s point of view, and we\u2019d be implanting learning into people\u2019s brains via video playback modules, the way \u201ctravel agents\u201d sold vacation memories of Mars to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the classic movie, Total Recall. Training would become a 20-minute outpatient procedure instead of an orchestrated exercise in organizational development.<\/p>\n
\n\tTraining as we know it would cease to exist and become part of the cave drawings others ponder in the distant future: Here is the sun. Here is the hunt. Here is an attendee doing a role-play.<\/p>\n
\n\tThere is no denying the business climate is tough. But training is a business I believe must be conducted from the heart. Yes, it is always a good idea to \u201cwatch your economics,\u201d but be careful not to forget that caring about people is one of the most essential characteristics of successful trainers.<\/p>\n
\n\tI was reminded of that point when keynoting at the National Convention for the Canadian Coaches Certification Program in Ottawa, Canada. One of the most prevalent themes that ran through every conversation I had was the value placed on the individual people those attendees coach and teach. One of the participants, Eldon Worobieff of Kelowna, British Columbia, gave me a chart that shows how three elements\u2014 love, dignity, and respect\u2014go a long way toward showing people they\u2019re valued.<\/p>\n
\n\tValue of the Person <\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tLove\u00a0 \u00a0 Dignity\u00a0 \u00a0Respect<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tINSPIRING OTHERS<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tWith all the other things we do in terms of design and delivery of our training, I think it\u2019s critical that we never forget the value of the people in our sessions. Obviously, if it is important for athletes to know coaches are on their side, then the same argument can be made for all of us who do our \u201ccoaching\u201d in corporate classrooms. Keeping an eye firmly focused on the human side of training doesn\u2019t mean you should entirely forget about the mandates of doing smart business during tough economic times. Indeed, there is probably no better time to find the delicate balance between the two issues. That way, no matter what the business climate, you know you\u2019re striving to meet everyone\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n \n\tOne sidebar: Eldon was a champion rower and a champion in coxed 8s at the 1963 Pan American Games and a 1964 Canadian Olympian, but his greatest impact was in coaching both at Pepperdine University, where he is in its Sports Hall of Fame, and in Kelowna. He is also in Canada\u2019s Sports Hall of Fame\u2014because of his coaching, not his personal athletic prowess.<\/p>\n \n\tOur greatest contribution as trainers is not our personal performance, but in empowering, inspiring, and equipping others.<\/p>\n \n\tUntil next time\u2014continue to add value and make a difference.<\/p>\n \n\tBob 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":" \n\tIt is always a good idea to \u201cwatch your economics,\u201d but be careful not to forget that caring about people is one of the most essential characteristics of successful trainers.<\/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-10988","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-trainer-talk","8":"magazine_issues-january-2018"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n