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We don't have time for training


I hear this a lot. We're all busy. Many clients tell me they know training is important and they want to provide great learning opportunities for everyone, but they just don't have time right now.


I know that you've got loads going on and that your staff just don't have time for anything else, but would you say that about any other function?


We know selling is important, but we don't have time right now.

We know customer service is important, but we don't have time right now.

We know finance is important, but we don't have time right now.


If you put off selling, you'd not have a business. If you put off customer service, you'd not have a business either - especially at the rate an angry customer takes to social media. If you put off paying your suppliers, tax or staff, you'd not have a business.


At the rate that technology changes, you simply cannot afford to put off training either. Did you know Excel has a new XLookup formula?


It's not just about technology though. Think about how much more efficient and effective everyone would be if they were the best in their field. If you had a team filled with the best administrators, the best customer service agents, the best managers, your business would be the best.


You know this. You want to provide great training.


How do you help people to make time for training?


First, stop thinking of training as sending everyone away for a few days to a fancy hotel. Training can happen at their desks. Training can be virtual, where they join from their own desk and hear and speak with others in the virtual room. You could provide elearning, so they can work through a course at their own pace whilst at their desk. You could even provide mobile learning, where they can access the same courses from their phones or tablets while they're out and about.


Second, make training a priority. Encourage your employees to make time for learning. Reward them for taking relevant workshops or courses. Encourage them to work with their managers to set learning goals at their appraisals.


Third, make it easy. Make it easy for people to access training whenever they need it or whenever they have time for it. That might mean hosting lunch and learn workshops, having a suite of videos or elearning modules on your intranet. It might mean ditching those training request forms in favour of trusting your people to choose the training that's right for them.


If you're not sure how to make time for training at your organisation, get in touch!


For more ideas, read 'Inspire Continuous Learning in Your Workplace' available here.





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