If given the choice, I’ll take a live seminar every time.
How many times have you had training through a webinar, recording or downloaded format and your mind wondered to the point that you never connected the dots to what was being said? Statistics say you are not alone.
This past week I listened to a webinar by a law firm and the topic was quite interesting. However, I do have two screens on my desktop, so I was checking e-mail, writing notes in my planner and visiting with someone that came into my office. Ever happen to you? I trust that has never happened to you.
The webinar stressed the importance of training on policies and procedures with your employees. Followed by a documented process completed for all those who received the training, which should be standard procedure. The reasons for the record of receiving the training may be for cost reduction on insurance or in case of a law suit for heaven’s sake you have a record “we gave the training to our people”. The speaker said that training on sexual harassment that was recorded and given to employees in that manner resulted in less compliance. Live training had far better results for effectiveness, which of course is the goal of any training and especially today with harassment charges at an all-time high. The cost to defend yourself is over $100K in Oklahoma according to my lawyer friends and settlements may become the norm for complaints, even if not true. Not only the bottom line is impacted, but your brand can be damaged in the marketplace for not addressing this issue with live training. By the way if you would like a recording of the webinar just click on this LINK.
I went to lunch with a friend the next day and he was sharing about his church that has three locations. After several years of simulcasting from one location to the other two, they changed to have all three campuses taught live by a campus pastor. Each had the same notes but delivered in their own style. A real live human personality came through to the members and they liked it. Attendance improved, community began to happen, and it became more authentic to the people in attendance and people felt well fed from the sermons. Could it be that live training or preaching or coaching is far more effective for the listeners? I am beginning to think so.
In the career transition industry, the trend is moving to a much cheaper virtual delivery where participants are directed to a set of webinars or an 800-toll free number. The participants talk to someone far away in a language accent that can sometimes be hard to understand. We have all been there with calls from or to people that we cannot see or understand. No personal connection. No reason to waste your time and no accountability for your preparedness, etc. One of our largest competitors has gone the virtual no personal touch, on line, toll free number route. They are a publicly traded company and just came out with results of 2017 with a 19.4% loss in their business financial report. I believe it is because of promoting this method of delivering outplacement to their clients. Going from live to recorded and webinar-based delivery is much cheaper. Companies that offer this kind of service can still announce that they aided their employees that were impacted with a layoff with assistance. But remember the cost is not always the best solution to helping people. Both the company offering the low-cost version and the recipient of this training have all lost out. Just imagine the stock holders of this company. They lost out to.
I know I am a stick in the mud for not seeing the true value of offering this type service to our clients and their employees. The interaction and communication are enhanced in the lives of people face-to-face. Recorded versions of training to support a live version can certainly reinforce training. A robust and powerful portal does make a difference for those that have been trained in how to use the tools in a personal live face-to-face encounter. Combined live and supportive resources will take your learning to new levels.
For me and my house, whenever I have a choice, I prefer live face-to-face training and a support system to go along with the training. As a side note, our millennials that go through our face-to-face training have been extremely engaged and interactive. They love the robust support systems we use to support them on their own time.
What about you? I would love to hear your thoughts. Post a comment or email me at the address listed below.
TRAVIS JONES CEO
Travis has been an entrepreneur and business owner in Tulsa for over 30 years. He is a certified Life Options Retirement Coach and is certified to facilitate and deliver the Manager As Coach Learning Series (MACLS) through CPI, and a certified Career Coach. He previously served on the board of Career Partners International (CPI) and is an equity partner in CPI, offering a global reach with over 350 offices.
Email: travis@cdpartnersinc.com
