Training—we deliver it with enthusiasm, skill, and the best of intentions. Wouldn’t it be great if that were all it took to skill up, elevate, and enlighten participants?
Unfortunately, the human brain doesn’t work that way. It takes in information for short-term memory. During sleep, it defrags, retaining information it considers important for longer-term storage and washing out that which it considers unnecessary. That neural reality is the call to action for us trainers to deepen the retention and invite practical application of our materials.
DIGGING IN
1. The Training: Start with highly engaged sessions. We learn best and most powerfully by seeing, hearing, and doing. Some helpful practices for retention include:
- At the beginning of your training, explain why active participation is strongly encouraged. (Hint: To strengthen participant understanding and buy-in.)
- Set an expectation that the session is just the beginning. Remind learners that it takes the brain 21 to 90 days or longer of practice (repeated and directed attention on any topic) to master material. Patience and persistence are key components of extended learning for practical application.
2. Post-Training Best Practices: Be sure to look beyond the seeds planted during the training and help learners grow their newly ingested skills, tools, and insights. I recommend that participants:
- Discuss their training session takeaways with their manager, agreeing on a prioritized approach to write S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals for five high-priority topics and add them to their annual Performance Appraisal.
- Teach their new learning to their direct reports or colleagues to create a team culture of continuous improvement, while employing the model of “Teach What You Need to Learn.”
- Communicate regularly with learning partners and small groups from the training session to support ongoing skill development, content mastery, and deepened relationships.
- Schedule best practices sessions where the new skills and insights are used and mastered.
- Promote a fun and productive theme, such as “Today Is Listening Deeply Day,” or “Honor Each Other’s Behavior Styles Week” or “Catch People Doing Something Right Month.”
Delivering powerful training with dedicated follow-up actions turns information into brilliance.
