What Makes a Powerful Website?
September 23, 2014
by Beverly Flaxington
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Beverly Flaxington is a practice management consultant. She answers questions from advisors facing human resource issues. To submit yours, email us here.
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
Dear Bev,
We are being asked to go through sales training. I don’t see the benefit of being away from clients and prospects for a couple of days to learn things we know how to do (even if we don’t always do them). How can I spend this time effectively? I have to travel, so it is actually four days out of the office.
Tal M.
Dear Tal,
It seems to me that most employees resist training. I don’t think they resist learning, but they definitely resist being taken away from their jobs for a long time and shut up in a room with other colleagues!
Training could be made more interesting by being presented in bite-sized pieces, using different media approaches. “Death by Powerpoint” isn’t appealing to most of us!
That said, you probably don’t control the way the training is structured, so let me answer your specific question. How can you make it more valuable for you?
Keep your attention focused on just one area in which you could use some improvement. Two-day training generally encompasses so much that it’s not possible to take it all in. Instead, set a goal for yourself to learn skills in one area that could be of value.
Next, look for the chance to network and engage. Not all of the value is in front of the room with the trainer. Much of it is in collaborating and learning from colleagues. Meet new people and take the chance to strengthen connections.
Lastly, be prepared. I also travel a great deal, and I used to find the time to be wasted. Then I started preparing more for my trips. Make a list of things you need to do, magazines and books you have not had the time to read or information you need to gather. Spend the down time in the airport, on the plane or train getting caught up on all the things there is rarely time for in the office.
I know it can seem like it is time wasted, but have a positive attitude. Try to go in with an open mind and gain as much as you can from this. The company is investing in you, and you are being given a chance to learn new skills. Grab it – the skills you learn will likely be of value somewhere down the road.
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