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8 Questions To Ask When Looking For Help With Training
Organisations have many options open to them when it comes to improving performance, profitability, service and results. Trawl the internet, ask your contacts and you will find plenty of trainers who on the face of it could meet your needs.
So what questions should you consider when looking for help with training?
What Do You Specialise In?
I truly believe that 80% of organisations face the same type of challenges. Then there is the 20% that is industry or sector specific. If you are looking for help with the 20% you need a specialist in the sector not a generalist.
What Access Do You Have To Other Resources?
The reality is that you will often start to identify other needs as time goes by. Will the training provider be able to help you access extra help or are they one track ponies?
How Do You Work With Clients?
Some offer off the shelf, one size fits all approach while others will offer a more tailored solution that focuses on specifics. Take Presentation Skills for example. Sometimes clients just need help with delivery, others with drafting, others with generating ideas and others with question handling. The more tailored and focused you are the better the results.
How Many Clients Have You Worked With Long Term?
There are many training organisations with long lists of clients. In my experience there is a huge difference between having 100 clients who you have delivered the odd day of training for and those that you have worked with long term.
What Can You Expect If Clients Work With Your Training Organisation?
Clients typically bring in external help because they either don’t have the capacity or expertise internally to deliver. It is therefore not unreasonable to ask what you will bring to the organisation.
Will You Use Different Approaches To Training?
While in person workshops are always good, you may well find that because your organisation operates over several locations, you need a blended approach.
How Will You Help Us Get The Long Term Return?
The fact of the matter is that while you will get some immediate quick wins, benefits are often realised over the long term.
Could We Do Something Different?
The fact is you may not need training at all but instead require consulting, coaching, facilitation or some other interventions.
The Bottom Line: A decision to invest in improving organisational performance is a significant one. Make sure you select the interventions that have the greatest likelihood in getting the results you desire.
Duncan Brodie helps organisations to deliver great performance through people. Learn more here.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.