New People, New Approaches
DIRECTIONS – Dawn Brehm
LTEN has a plethora of resources that can make onboarding easier.
There’s a new decade coming, we’re 20 years into this century, which means a new generation is joining the workforce. And, of course, there are new tools, opportunities and approaches to explore and challenge our thinking. It’s time to embrace those changes and realize still more will follow.
That’s par for the course for trainers – change is what we do and how we grow. As the developers of people, we live for the new-hire class, that group of excited associates ready to learn. Their open minds are looking to us to help them forge paths into new career frontiers.
The question then is: Do we welcome new members of our training team with that same hopeful optimism? Is there any new staffer more critical to our success than the new trainer? Without fresh ideas and perspectives, our curriculum can become stale and dated. A new team member from the front lines comes with the freshest perspective on what our learners need to succeed. Are we listening?
How do we welcome the new trainer to the team? Do we use the same structured and planned approach that we offer a new sales representative or a newly promoted field manager?
Sadly, we often do not. Unfortunately, we sometimes welcome the new trainer to the department on Friday and have them facilitating a class on Monday, using the “throw ’em in the deep end” approach to onboarding.
In addition to the technical expertise that is essential for their assignment, new staff members need to comprehend their role in department dynamics, the way the teams communicate, work together and understand the culture of the work environment.
LTEN is here to help ensure your new training team members are prepared and developed to succeed. We have a plethora of resources that can make the onboarding process easier.
Starting with resources dedicated to field trainers, which is frequently our training ground for new associates, LTEN supports those who are seeking a career move into learning and development.
The LTEN eLearning Lounge is custom-built to help build a foundation for a learning professional. The 14 modules provide a concise overview of the fundamentals of training. The online modules, supported by learning guides, are just what is needed to get a trainer oriented and delivering quality experiences.
A thoughtful development plan will expand from online learning to live events, which LTEN supports as well. Our in-person workshops feature topics such as classroom facilitation, the learning process and even a live course that focuses on the way our brains work and learn. The LTEN On-the-Go app and the L-TEN.org website offer details on the live and online resources LTEN provides to support trainers and training leaders.
And our LTEN Focus on Training magazine provides a vital resource as well. This issue includes a feature article on Page 22 on new trainer onboarding. And, starting with Page 40 of this issue, each new Focus will include a New Trainer article that’ll share tips, insights and approaches for your newest assets.
Yes, let’s be thoughtful about our onboarding of new team members, and utilize the resources at our fingertips. But remember, the best resources we can offer are our personal support, knowledge and experiences. Best of luck bringing new members to your learning and development team!
Dawn Brehm is executive director of LTEN. Email Dawn at dbrehm@L-TEN.org.
