Another entry from Fred Haskett, Managing Partner – Operations, U.S. Lawns of West
and St. Charles County
Do we
really know how to “Train Our Trainers?
A lot of us are in the midst of
working on our “Training Programs.” This is an area that, as I
have talked to different people around the industry is a continuing source of
angst. We live in an information rich environment. There are literally hundreds
of places to get technical and business information. At PLANET (the Professional
Landcare Network) members are lucky to have at their fingertips: programs,
books, videos, DVD’s, CD’s etc. These represent some of the most cutting edge
information and data available.
Yet with all of this
“STUFF” why is training still a constant source of frustration for us large or
small?
IN REALITY… (though, we
like to think otherwise) … OUR PEOPLE NEVER RISE TO
THE OCCASION … THEY ALWAYS DEFAULT TO
THEIR LEVEL OF TRAINING!!!
I do not think the problem is in
finding the RIGHT STUFF. The problem is: Do we, as owners and
managers, know how to TEACH the RIGHT WAY. To be effective, we as
trainers need to be familiar with the nature of the Teaching-Learning Process
Teaching is
directing the learning process – Motivating – Reinforcing – Satisfying Needs –
Creating Interest – all toward the trainees goals.
Learning is
the process by which a trainee, through his own activity, becomes changed in
behavior.
Training Methods are
those techniques (procedures / processes) used by the trainer to instruct the
trainees in the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to achieve the
objectives of the lesson.
BEFORE YOU TRY TO TEACH …
you should know how people learn.
There are five basic ways in
which trainees learn. Your job as a teacher / trainer is to select the way or
combination of ways best suited not only to your trainees, but also to the
particular thing being taught.
PEOPLE LEARN BY:
1)
Doing: Performing a new job in the same way, with the same tools
and equipment, under the same conditions as they will have to do this task in
an actual real-life situation.
2)
Thinking: Solving a real-life difficulty or problem: getting the
facts needed to solve it; discussing it with others; arriving at decisions;
putting the decisions into action, and testing them.
3) Seeing: Observing a thing being
done; studying pictures, charts, videos, illustrations, and real objects
4) Being
Told: Getting information and instruction through words – written,
spoken, or printed.
5)
Being Checked and Corrected: Learning through mistakes brought to
their attention in a positive manner by an alert, competent trainer.
I have found over the years that adults learn their basic and fundamental
skills and tasks best with a combination of these processes. At our company we
have been using the following training process for the past few years and have
seen a definite up-tick in the effectiveness and results from our training
efforts and events.
The most important thing about this process is that:
… You must utilize it
consistently and in the sequence it is presented in.
…
You cannot skip steps and achieve the results you want.
I have found also that providing this simple tool to your
trainers will make them more comfortable and less fearful of their role as a
trainer.
We call it -- SHOW, DO, WATCH, COACH
EFFECTIVE TRAINING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES
1) WHAT: Explain what it is that
you are going to train on.
2) WHY: Explain why you do what
you are going to train on.
3) LISTEN: Have the trainee explain what
and why we do the specific process or procedure.
4) SHOW: Demonstrate to the trainee the
specific process or procedure.
5) DO: Have the trainee demonstrate the
specific process or procedure.
6) WATCH: Observe the trainee demonstrating
the specific process or procedure.
7) COACH: Explain to the trainee what they did
right and what they need to correct.
8) SHOW:
Repeat the demonstration of the specific process or procedure emphasizing
the areas the trainee needs to correct.
9) DO: Have the trainee
re-demonstrate the specific process or procedure with the corrections you demonstrated.
10) WATCH: Observe the trainee
re-demonstrating the specific process or procedure.
11) COACH:
Explain to the trainee what they did right and what they need to correct.
Repeat steps 8, 9, 10, and as required.
FINALLY … AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
12) PRAISE: Compliment the trainee on their
successful accomplishment.
A Simple Process … that can and will apply
to virtually any person or any area of your business.
As we all know … Training is not a full time job it
is an all the time job.
If your trainers have the right tools they can get the
job done for your trainees.
