Talking Doesn’t Help, Acting Does.
We all agree that professional development is essential. Developing and advancing is critical for us to find meaning in our work, to be successful in our careers, and for our teams to have a better experience, especially if we are leaders.
That’s why almost every leader has participated in this and many similar corporate training and development programs: Leadership development, leadership training, “soft skill” development…
Sometimes a strong bond is established between the participants and the trainer, and the stories are fascinating.
Sometimes, some trainers, especially those who have proven successful as speakers, are enthusiastically welcomed by the participants. After the training, there were some positive comments such as: “It was like a stand-up show, we had a great time. But I don’t remember what he said!”
Sometimes the content is good, but the instructor does not attract much attention.
We forget 90% of what we learn in a week.
It is evident that even in the best scenario (good instructor-good content), we forget most of what we learned in a short time. In his research in 1885, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus reveals how quickly we forget what we learn. Many studies since then confirm this finding. Theories show that we forget 90% of what we learn within a week!
Having the opportunity to experience, interact, and express what you have learned within the scope of education undoubtedly positively affects the period of remembering what you have learned. But the most important thing is this: Will the participants in corporate trainings be able to apply what they have learned immediately after the training? Are the team’s culture, the company, and the workload suitable for this? Are participants motivated to take action?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is “no,” unfortunately, the ROI (Return on Investment) will be very low. There is a severe loss when we consider the cost of the training, the time spent by the participants for the training, and many other factors.
We should not forget to organize corporate training where people feel that they are improving and that will positively affect their career and experience of themselves and their teams: Talking Doesn’t Help, Acting Does.
That’s why, at Feedback & Beyond, we always ask the following important question before we take action on any development program: What do our participants need to go beyond talking and take action?
In accordance with our answer to this question, we add practical applications and suggestions to all our studies. And we see that when we ask this question and take appropriate actions, behavior change is possible, and it is possible to improve genuinely.
In this way, we see that we make a clear contribution to everyone’s better experience at work, and we continue to do our job with passion. 🙂
Ceyla Durgun AkdaÄŸ
No Comments