Featured Reading: Training for Dummies

With many quality systems management reviews including an assessment of organizational training needs, my featured reading choice is one of the best books on training I’ve found in 20 years:  Elaine Beich’s Training for Dummies .

The beauty of this book is its simplicity.  For the busy executive faced with leading an upcoming presentation or training session, the book is perfect for finding just the right amount of information to improve your game.

And for compliance executives tasked with continual improvement, the philosophy of the author should appeal:  “The purpose of training is to improve performance” (p. 260).

Three parts of the book I’ve found helpful over the years when I give corporate workshops and training:

·         How to determine if there is a good reason to conduct actual training (versus coaching, e-mailing information, presentations, etc.);

·         How to set reasonable objectives and get employees engaged; and

·         How to create effective visuals, start and end sessions on strong notes, and calm your own anxiety.

Throughout are many tips on improving effectiveness—something crucial to improving performance, compliance and competitiveness.

Skip the webinars and teleconferences on “effective training” and spend less than $15 on Training for Dummies .  You’ll soon know why everyone else can’t get good quality systems training.