We are certainly not so arrogant as to claim that we are experts on every topic that might require training. Far from it! We are experts, however, on Learning and Development.
Most companies have just the opposite: Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), but no specialists in the science of Learning and Development. Sadly, too often these companies ask their SMEs to "train" others, putting the SMEs into the difficult position of trying to come up with a way to get the wealth of information that’s in their heads into the heads of others with no learning methodology to assist them.
What typically occurs in these situations is what we call a "Data Dump," where the SME talks to a group of people, often with a laser pointer and PowerPoint bullet points (because if it's Training, PowerPoint *must* be involved, right?), all the while the "learners" are charged with listening intently and trying to absorb and remember everything the SME says. Sound like anything you've ever been involved in, as either a SME or a participant? Most of us have, and most of us don't remember 2% of what was "taught."
My intent here is not to insult the SMEs, who really are doing the very best they can to pass information on to others, or the companies, who really do believe that a Data Dump is an effective way to train their folks. It's been done countless times by countless organizations, but it's amazingly ineffective.
This is where an outside source – one that specializes in custom training – can make a real difference by reviewing the company’s existing source material (if there is any) and meeting with the SMEs to gain an understanding of the information that is to be relayed to the learners. I like to refer to is as wrapping a verified learning methodology around the client’s content to ensure that the learners actually learn what they’re supposed to learn, and they just might have some fun while they’re learning it.
We then use a proven method of scientific Instructional Design to create highly interactive and experiential training, whether it be classroom training or some form of online training, where the learners have the opportunity to actively participate in the learning process through activities and interactions. And guess what…by engaging the learner in the learning process, you achieve a much greater level of retention! And retention is always the goal in training.
To ensure that the message of the training stays on track with the established learning objectives and that all information being communicated in the training is correct, we keep the SMEs actively involved throughout the entire development process. We have several review phases where the SMEs have opportunities to provide feedback and make any corrections that may need to be made.
Some of the benefits of custom training are:
1. You Choose the Training Topic that Your Business Needs - Instead of selecting a course from a menu of pre-written, generic courses that may or may not meet the needs of your organization, your training is custom designed and relevant for your intended audience.
2. The Examples and Scenarios are Realistic for Your Organization - The interactivity of our training is built around real-life scenarios that your learners might encounter in their jobs. This single factor will bring the training to life for the learners, rather than requiring them to contort some irrelevant example to make it make sense in their real day-to-day life.
3. When the Course is Written, You Own It - You will receive all of the files to be able to update the training if the content changes. Of course, if you choose to hire us to update the course, that’s perfectly fine with us! Just know that you are not dependent on us to make any future changes to the course.
If you would like to explore some Custom Training solutions for your organization, contact us for a free consultation. We would love to partner with you to make your training more effective!
Angela Fieseler is a Master Performance Consultant and Managing Partner with FOTIS Consulting, a woman & veteran owned firm that helps companies who understand that the way to achieve their business goals is through their people. FOTIS Consulting partners with these companies to develop custom learning solutions, conduct performance analyses, or develop programs to help them be successful and achieve their business goals through their greatest asset, their people. Contacting Angela directly at angela.fieseler@fotisconsulting.com.
