| Computer and soft-skills training seems to fall into | | | | money on generic, useless training. |
| the nebulous, foggy category of a "necessary" | | | | So take the extra time to specify exactly which |
| but "unmeasurable" need. At a basic level, it's | | | | topics you need covered in your training sessions, |
| obvious that employees can't do their jobs well if | | | | and why, and this will go a long way towards |
| they don't know what they are doing! Yet so | | | | helping you achieve your training and business |
| many times businesses spring beaucoup bucks for | | | | objectives. |
| training, and end up scratching their heads | | | | 2. Pre/Post Testing |
| wondering if the investment was worth it. After | | | | Another simple, powerful, and effective tool is to |
| all, how do you know? | | | | use pre-class and post-class tests to determine |
| In this article we are going to explore three | | | | employees' net gains and the overall effectiveness |
| methodologies for you to use to help you | | | | of the training. This probably sounds like a big |
| determine if your training program is as effective | | | | hassle...but it doesn't have to be! Your training |
| as it could be, and if not, how to tweak it so that | | | | provider should be able to set up pre/post tests |
| it meets your objectives. But let's begin at the | | | | for you (we offer pre/post testing for any of our |
| end. | | | | courses, at no charge--just ask!). |
| 1. Begin with the End in Mind | | | | Pre/post testing will allow you to objectively |
| The first mistake businesses make is to forget | | | | measure student's progress in the course, and |
| why they are holding training sessions in the first | | | | give you a better idea if your training efforts |
| place. You need more than a vague, "upgrade | | | | were successful. Check out or ClassMarker.com, |
| skill-sets" goal in order to get maximum results | | | | or other similar sites for great prices and easy |
| for minimum expenditure. What's necessary is a | | | | administration of testing via the Net. |
| set of clearly defined goals that tie directly into | | | | 3. Post-Class Surveys |
| business objectives. In other words, you need to | | | | Additionally, you can (and should!) do surveys |
| let your business goals drive your training goals. | | | | following the class to determine students' |
| How can you tie them together? | | | | impressions and overall feedback for the course. |
| It's easy. Once you have determined your | | | | After all, you are holding the training sessions to |
| business goals and needs, you ask, what do my | | | | better their skill-sets, and unless you were in the |
| employees need to know to accomplish these | | | | classroom with them, you need their feedback to |
| objectives? This will quite literally flesh out your | | | | know what really went on. |
| training outline all by itself. You would be amazed | | | | A great way to accomplish this is to use a |
| at how many businesses skip this step, insisting | | | | service called surveymonkey. If you do only a |
| and hoping that putting their employees through a | | | | few trainings a year they offer a free service, or |
| generic training program will yield needed results. | | | | for bulk trainings there is a nominal charge. The |
| Doesn't work that way. | | | | neat thing about it is they offer the service |
| Why not? | | | | entirely through email, with a great looking |
| Because employees and trainers are not geared | | | | interface as well as reporting features. It makes |
| towards meeting your goals; they have their own | | | | for a painless, handy and convenient way to |
| agendas. Imagine telling a group of people to go | | | | obtain metrics from your training sessions, on the |
| look for "something," in a "northerly" direction. | | | | cheap. |
| What a silly instruction that would be! Can you | | | | Summary |
| imagine what they might come up with? Oh, | | | | Now that you know some of the techniques you |
| they'll come up with something all right, but it | | | | can use to make your training sessions more |
| won't be what you had in mind! | | | | powerful, you can use them to save money and |
| Now imagine telling them, "go look in that building | | | | increase the effectiveness of your employees. |
| on the 3rd floor for any clothing or food staples | | | | We covered: |
| that are still salvageable." | | | | * Begin with the End in Mind, or Customized |
| These are specific, easy-to-follow instructions that | | | | Topics |
| will help target your peoples' efforts. It's the exact | | | | * Pre/Post Testing |
| same way with computer and soft-skills training. | | | | * Post-Class Surveys |
| Having clearly defined objectives, and | | | | So make the most of your training dollars. The |
| communicating those objectives to both trainers | | | | best computer and soft-skills training really does |
| and participants in advance, helps to focus your | | | | enhance your bottom line, if you are smart in |
| people and will net you much better results. Not | | | | how you implement it. |
| to mention, you will not be throwing away all that | | | | |