What if we train them and they leave? What if we don’t and they stay?

Indeed, you may have read or heard this line over a dozen times already, but it’s so true. Education is often seen as a cost center but when applied in the right way, it may turn into a strategic asset. Sure, there is huge value in ‘learning on the job’ because practice makes perfect, right? But on top of that, proper training of your employees on the basics of whatever tools they have to work with, whether it is hard- or software, will prevent them from having to re-invent the wheel or make the same mistakes over and over again. Whenever I am conducting a training course I try to make my students understand what they’re dealing with and how they can apply it to their day to day work to make their job (and their life) a lot easier.

Because what good does knowledge do you if you can’t apply it? Only to pass an exam and get certified? Sure, certification is important but it is not the ultimate goal.

I know there are different types of learners, some like to listen to a trainer’s explanation, some like to read from a text book and others want to learn by trial and error. I always do my best to meet the learning needs of all these students because the goal is that they learn from it.

In my consultancy work I try to do the same thing, involve the customers in what I’m doing so they can also do it when I’m not around. A little bit of ‘training on the job’, if you will.