Practical Resources for Supervisors to Maximize Training Success

Are you considering training for your support staff but unsure where to begin?

Motivating front-line staff to attend agency training events can be really challenging - but don't despair! Here are a few things you can do to create some buzz and make your next workshop a must-attend event. Spice It Up! Take a close look at how you communicate the workshop to staff. A boring email or notice with little information about the session is a sure way to drive people away. Instead, think about ways to market the workshop to your staff. Generate interest with phrases like, "learn new skills you can use tomorrow" or "join us and share your ideas." Most importantly, clearly describe what the workshop is about and how it will help them in their job. Advance Notice Announce the workshop early - send out a fun ‘save the date,’ even if all of the details aren’t confirmed yet. 3rd Time's the Charm Send multiple notices using various communication methods. Since all of us are getting so many emails, texts and voice mails these days, it's easy for your message to get lost. Marketing gurus recommend sending at least three reminders. Who’s Your Team Hero? Recruit a few front-line ambassadors who understand and value training and ask them to help create some buzz and excitement among staff about upcoming events. Roadmap Anyone? Make sure you’ve covered the basics: be sure to include the date, time, location and the process to follow if they want to join the workshop.  Capacity Builders’ friendly, experienced staff can help you choose the right training for your front-line support workers and make it a must-attend event.

Do you book training for your front-line support workers, but rarely attend the sessions yourself? You’re not alone! It may seem like a waste of time going to a workshop that isn’t related to your day-to-day responsibilities, but what if attending even a few training sessions with your support staff could snag you lots of benefits? Being there with your PSWs gives you the opportunity to: experience the workshop content first-hand, making it easier for you to identify specific techniques, skills or approaches you’ll want to reinforce with your staff after the session. clarify agency policy and procedures. Capacity Builders’ trainers will often discuss agency policy with you in advance of the session, but your deep organizational knowledge is invaluable for ‘in the moment’ learning that reinforces organizational policy. connect face-to-face with your support staff and communicate your organization’s commitment to ongoing development and, most important of all, to express to PSWs their value to the agency. If you do attend a workshop with your staff: talk to your trainer ahead of time and discuss your role in the workshop. be present and fully engaged - if you pop in and out of the room, or if your attention is focused on your laptop, you’ll likely be a distraction and risk sending the message that the session is not that important. If you’re engaged it’s much more likely your people will be engaged as well, and that means better quality learning for everyone! Strengthen your connection with your support staff and demonstrate your organization's commitment to their development. Contact Capacity Builders now to discuss customized training solutions that fit your unique needs. Together, we can create a training plan that boosts retention and drives excellence in your organization.