How to Make Training Effective- The Saturday Matinee Syndrome

How many times have you attended or sent one of your team to a training session and heard very positive comments about the session, but somehow nothing happened back at the work place? There was a great facilitator, the topic was timely and interesting, and the interaction was engaging and fun, but once everyone got back to work (which had been waiting for your return) there didn't seem to be an opportunity to implement what you had learned.

I call this the Saturday Matinee Syndrome- because it's like going to a movie. You spend a few hours being engaged, and once it is over you say to yourself, "That was interesting/fun/boring/confusing" then come back to work and nothing changes.

Here is my philosophy on training- it should only be done if there is a benefit to the organization's performance. Don't spend the time or money unless you believe the training will help the individuals and the organization get better.

So how do you avoid the Saturday Matinee Syndrome? There are four simple steps involved, and they take minimal time to execute.

First: PRE-PLAN. Before attending the session, the participant should spend 15 minutes with their manager, talking about the topic to be presented and what learning is targeted to bring back to the organization. Make a quarter page of bullet point notes on this discussion.

Second: During the training (optional), and immediately after the training, the trainee makes a Personal Action Plan which answers the following three questions:
A. What were my most importing learnings? (No more that three)
B. What specific steps am I going to take to implement them? (What new behaviors is the trainee going to attempt to incorporate into their daily work routine?)
C. Who am I going to ask to help (hold me accountable) for implementing these new behaviors?

Third: The trainee briefs their manager on their learning, action plan, and assistance they would like in implementing the plan.

Fourth: Using Outlook tools, or a Day Planner, or some other systemic method, copy your Action Plan and have it show up on your desk/desktop weekly for the first month, then monthly for the next three months. It takes adults 27 days of practice to learn and adopt new habits, and constant reminders greatly assist you with that.

So, the next time you or one of your team attends a training session, you know how to avoid the time being "Gone with the Wind."