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| Getting Students into the Training Classroom - and Keeping Them
There (Part 2). By Mike Collins (14th July, 2005) |
In the first part of this article I described how I experimented with ways of ensuring that employees show up for internal training classes, as well as returning from breaks, on time. When I go into companies to consult on Training Systems, or to deliver Training Courses, I find that this is often the main bugbear of many a Training Co-Ordinator/Manager.
In order to further look at this challenge, we divide it into following two broad categories:
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How do you get employees booked on the training course to actually turn up in the first place?
-
Once they turn up, how do you ensure that employees return on time from breaks (as well as turning up on time on further days of training)?
Let us now look at the second of these scenarios:
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Once they turn up, how do you ensure that students return on time from breaks (as well as turning up on time on further days of training)?
So, the question is:
How do you encourage/ensure prompt start of classes - especially after breaks
(rather than punishing people if they are late)?
What I eventually found works best for my own situations (Adult
training/learning) is based on learning from a particular book
and a field of study - the book is called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Here is what I do:
As we approach the first break in class I
use the following words:
Now when they come back (each trying not to be the last), the key thing is to follow up on your "threat" as necessary - and have a bit of FUN!
I have found that this technique works right through my 2 day workshops (after an initial briefing on the first morning) with amazing effectiveness.
I would not have
believed it until I tried it (I have taken this approach successfully in Ireland, USA, England,
Venezuela, Sweden and Italy - for some reason it never seems to work in France!)
So, what's the theory behind this?
In essence, the 3 essential components to the above approach are:
-
Draw attention to the end result required. (be back by 10.45am). Use an auditory signal to ensure all pay attention.
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State that something is important "BECAUSE" (Ciladini found that most of us humans hear the word "BECAUSE" and don't really listen to the rest - assuming there is a good reason following the BECAUSE).
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Most of us are motivated AWAY FROM potentially painful experiences (in this case motivated AWAY FROM providing entertainment).
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SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE - people look around and see others accepting this proposal and then typically accept it themselves. Also, after it works once, an element of being on the right side of the law kicks in (or in some people's cases, openly flouting it!)
Why not Try it for yourself!
In the meantime, you will find other relevant information at the following locations:
I can also recommend the following book as relevant to this area:
Mike Collins is the principle of Michael J. Collins Associates offering Coaching, Training and Psychometric Services.