Why Bother?

She was new to our program for supervisors. Only in her second week of class. The time when her first homework assignment was due. She had done it. Worked hard on it. Was ready to turn it in.

Part of the assignment was to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal for her department. When the assignment was given in the first week of class it was highly recommended that people discuss their goal with their boss. To make sure the boss agreed with goal. She did. And this was her boss's response: "What are worrying about that crap for? You don't have to set goals in your position. Don't waste my time with this."

Now, before class began, with almost a tear in her eye, she asked me: "Why did my company send me to this, Dan, if they don't even care about what I learn?"

And that my friends is an example of stupid things companies do when it comes to education and training. I know she benefitted from the program. When she changed employers. But the company who sent her to the program received no real return on their investment of money, her time, and the time of those covering her department while she attended classes.

The moral (Do I need to give you a moral?): If you are not going to be interested in what your employees are learning, if you are not going to show that interest, if you are not going to be a coach and answer their real-world questions of applying what they are learning to their job, then you are wasting their time and your money.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.