by Neal Whitman

Created on: September 02, 2009   Last Updated: September 07, 2009

Creative Training

Creative training begins with knowing when to train. When people do not do what needs to be done in the way it needs to be done BUT could if their lives depended upon it, creative trainers assert that there is no need to train. But, if people could not do what is needed, no matter what, it is time to train. The creative trainer then "Minds the Gap." If you have been to London and ridden on the Underground, you see Mind the Gap signs to alert passengers to watch out for the space between the platform and the train. Likewise, creative trainers look for the distance between where people are, in terms of knowledge and skills, and where they need to be to do what needs to be done. But, the next step is essential and one that only the most creative of trainers attend to. What attitude does it take to use knowledge and skill to perform at the requisite level?

Without the right attitude, performance will not improve. It helps to think of the C words. Do personnel feel Concerned? Comfortable? Caring? If not, do not be surprised if training accomplishes nothing. Creative training addresses these motivational factors. How? Not with a lecture! You cannot tell someone what to feel. What you can is to include experiential components in training that allow people to uncover and explore how they feel about the tasks ahead.

Every creative training program will display two features: novelty and utility. Novel? There must be something memorable and personalized about the training something new and different. The "same old same old" will yield the same old "no change" in performance outcome. Utility? Adults need to know up front how the training will be useful to them. Need to know right now! The ol' high school algebra teacher, "Take my word for it. You will thank me later," does not cut it with adult the workplace.

Creative training begins and ends with an impact statement. How will people be different when they leave training? This statement is the creative trainer's gold standard. Not a breath should be taken in the training environment that does not inspire that end result. Remember: inspiration is an active process. Yes, it may be a principle of respiratory physiology, but it also is a principle of adult learning. So, participants in a training program should be involved in the creation of their own impact statement. Another C word: Committed.

Creative Training: Train only when it is the solution. Mind the gap. Deal with attitude. Be novel and useful. Can you see it? Training that has impact and makes a difference.not

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