The Importance Of Training And Development

What would happen if the athletes who decide to run the Boston Marathon failed to train? Would they succeed? Would they feel a sense of accomplishment? Or would they experience humiliation in front of fellow athletes? Training leads to personal growth and success. If you have not already determined a plan for success, then begin drafting your training plan today.

Training Excuses

Training is one element many corporations consider when looking to advance people and offer promotions. Although many employees recognize the high value those in management place on training and development, some employees are still reluctant to be trained. It is not uncommon to hear excuses regarding why someone has not received training.

Some people are just comfortable in what they are doing. Some fail to see the value of training because they really believe that they already know it all. And while that might be true, the knowledge value of training and development is not the only perk. Training and development offers more than just increased knowledge. It offers the added advantage of networking and drawing from others’ experiences. When you attend a seminar or event with others who have jobs that are much like yours, you have the added benefit of sharing from life experience. The seminar notes or the conference leader might give you the key nugget you take back and implement. But then again, your best piece of advice for the day might come from the peer sitting across from you while having lunch.

Another common excuse is that there is not enough money budgeted to pay for training. Who said that training always carries a heavy enrollment fee? Training can be free. You can set up meetings with peers who are on a similar path as you. When you spend time with them you can ask various questions that will in fact be of benefit to you and the direction you are headed. Follow someone for a day to see how they organize or manage their time and resources. The cost to you is a day out of your normal routine. You usually don’t think twice about taking a day of vacation, so why should a day of training be any different?

Time is another often-heard excuse when training and development is mentioned. Have you considered that training and development might actually give you more time? Often the procedures, ideas, short cuts, and timesaving hints learned in training and development sessions equal more time in the long run. Have you heard the old saying that you have to spend money to make money? Well, in a sense, the same is true for training and development. You have to devote some time to training and development to make you more productive in the long run.

Reasons to Train

In order to convince you to ditch the excuses, perhaps we need to look at some reasons to train. Training is valuable to both you. Increased knowledge and skill makes you more productive in and thus more valuable. As you grow in knowledge or skill, you make yourself more marketable.

Another reason to train is because it helps keep you motivated and breaks up your normal routine. Training can help you get beyond the daily routine and perhaps energize you to do better work.

Part of the energizing process of training is found in the relationships formed during training sessions. Training offers you a time to network with and connect with other professionals. Always remember to exchange business cards or contact information. You never know when you might need to contact the person or vice versa.

Your Personal Training Plan

Once you have determined that you are in need of a training plan, consider which areas of weakness need to be targeted. Then consider which areas are strong, yet could be further strengthened. Make a list of several skills or knowledge that you believe would make you more valuable and marketable. Then begin to determine ways you could be trained to strengthen those areas.

In determining you personal training plan, don’t overlook areas in which you have an interest. If you are interested in learning more about computers or if you have an interest in public speaking, why not seek training in one of those areas? You may begin to see that God is leading you to an area of giftedness or interest that you have not yet tapped. Dream big and seek the training you think best fits both your needs and interests and then watch yourself grow in personal development.