Training Blog...

One of the challenges that can come with training is how to energize the employees who are doing it. The environment that we place training in, can often be just as important as what we are training on.

For an organization that is either new to training, or hasn’t offered it in years there is a simple and successful marketing tool I suggest.

Offer free food, and they will come.

“Lunch and learns” are a great way to jump start your training culture. With many of my clients, setting aside one day a month to provide pizza and a training topic have changed the way their employees view training, and the way their company offers it.

And the ROI is impressive as well. In a recent Lunch and Earn with a sales staff team, productivity within the group increased 180% in the first day! That’s an impressive amount, for a few well spent dollars.

Did anyone read the news online, receive a live news feed on your mobile devise, or listen to your local news on your commute home yesterday?  If so, you probably heard about the unveiling of the new Apple iPad.  We talked about it in the office yesterday.  What are they going to call it?  How much will it be?  What is Steve Jobs going to be wearing during his keynote?  It even got to the point that a coworker and I had a bet on this.  She said that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple for those that may not know who I am referring to, would give his presentation in a black turtleneck and jeans….that’s his “brand”.  I thought he might spice it up a little and wear a black shirt of some kind (maybe not a turtleneck) with an Apple logo with jeans.  Well, I was wrong.  He did have on a plain old black turtleneck with jeans.  Very similar to Batman…same outfit different day of the week!

Branding.  This seems to be the new buzzword.  There are many blogs, forums, websites, and articles etc. that are focusing their campaign on helping you brand yourself and/or your company. It is a marketing strategy.  The focus isn’t to get your target market to choose you over your competitors, but to have your target market think that you are the ONLY solution to their needs.  About.com posted an article, by Laura Lake, stating the objectives that a good brand will achieve are:

• Delivering the message clearly
• Confirming your credibility
• Connecting emotionally with your target market
• Motivate your buyer
• User loyalty

Wow!  That is exactly what Steve Jobs does time after time.  If we think outside the box of “having to be in the marketing department to do this”, you can apply these points to just about anything.  Your job, your social life, your role as a parent and the list goes on.  Think about how you, or your leaders, are branding the training or learning within your company.  Is there a clear message about the expectations of training?  Is there follow through with the training to confirm credibility?  Does your company provide training that the learners can connect with emotionally?  Is there motivation to learn?  Are the learners loyal?  You may find that all 5 items are covered, but if not, how can you help?