Could it be that we as learning professionals tend to err on the side of training because it's what pays the bills. What happens when you find yourself saying that training isn't the answer?
I'm finding that the more you spend in conducting needs analysis and repelling the "training grenades" (the managers coming to your door with problems that only training will solve), and really inquire around the performance issues: that training can be a catalyst. It might create the forum for broader team-focused or organizational conversations around expectations, behaviors, and practices. But it is never the sole answer.
The concept of MBW (management by walking) is useful here. Translated into our professional context it might be TBW (training by walking). The more I am out, talking to our project teams, inquiring into the business, and the projects we are executing, the more I am engaged in performance consulting. Yes, I'm finding out what our needs are, but in situ with the problems, assumptions, and behaviors surrounding these needs. It's leading me to shorter, tighter, more focused learning solutions, rather than larger training events (like 1/2 day programs or larger).
Today I was planning the Knowledge Cafes I'm facilitating for the Time Management module (Harvard ManageMentor). In thinking about these larger concepts around work breakdown, goal setting, eliminating time wasters, identifying strategies and systems to accelerate through tasks, I began thinking of the tools we use everyday in the workplace. Of course, we have our speciality software programs, but I kept coming back to Outlook. We use it everyday. But do we use it well? Collectively as an organization are we accruing the value from this tool? Or are we missing opportunities and inefficiencies through underutilizing it? So I started roaming the hallways asking people questions, ducking into people's cubicles and watching them, sending emails with links to a questionaire I cooked up. It was Anthropology 101, but it quickly gave insight into developing a learning solution to compliment the Time Management modules. Rather than just talking about Time Management we are going to embed our conversations and activities around little snippets of skills development or key functions and capabilities to improve our performance.
