It isn't even 2023, but the work for 2023 is well and truly ongoing, but that doesn't mean that any of the 2022 tasks have been dropped. Next January, there will be a Global Sales kick-off in Portugal and my team is both doing most of the heavy lifting for the organization and, also the deliveries of content itself.
I will be hosting/ facilitating/ presenting a full day of sessions on two of the three days, and weirdly, I don't have support. All the other groups have two facilitators, so it is probably going to be a little difficult. At this point though, I am in the planning stages of the delivery, working out goals that align and support the overarching strategic direction, and then the more practical aspects of what the hell I am going to have them do.
Surprisingly to some perhaps, I don't do info-dump sessions.
These are workshops, not lectures, which means that they have to be defined and facilitated for people to work in smaller groups and manage themselves. But, they can't be too defined, otherwise people can feel restricted and forced, which kills their creativity and willingness to participate - it shouldn't feel like school. At the same time, there has to be an output from it, something that they have produced and will be usable, even if not polished during the sessions.
Knowing their current challenges, I think I have a good idea of what to do with them, but meeting their needs doesn't necessarily mean meeting their wants, and often, people don't even know what they want, let alone what they need. All they know is that they want something that is tailored to their expertise, high-value, doesn't waste their time, while keeping them entertained and engaged.
Easy.
I have been training adults for over two decades now and one thing stands out, they are far fussier than children and often, far more entitled. At least in the workplace. Professionals tend to live their work life in a bubble, as they are able to spend their time predominantly in their field of knowledge, and have other people professionally support the other areas that they aren't interested in.
This distribution of responsibilities is effective and efficient, to meet common goals, but it can also give somewhat a false sense of ability, as a lot of grand things are accomplished that an individual is part of, but they actually only contributed to a narrow slice. There is value in the cooperation, but often people forget that the role they play, isn't quite as large as they lead themselves to believe it is, which is why a lot of people feel that they are not expendable to their employer, until they are made redundant and things going on smoothly without them.
Everyone is expendable.
And, I was thinking (fantasizing) about this today, where if for example I just quit my job, it would be very difficult to be replaced, for all of a few weeks. Essentially, as soon as it happened, any non-essential tasks would be put on hold, and essential tasks would be taken on by my supervisor and a couple others, atop their normal work. This is essentially what happened when my colleague finished up a few weeks back, where for most people, nothing has really changed, since I picked up the slack.
But, at the same time as this, the workload I face is much higher and is likely to be prolonged in this way, because once someone is employed, since ramp-up takes time. However, if I were to burn out, essentially all the tasks I am currently doing would fall by the wayside, other than the critical. This is silly though, because if I am burning-out because of the workload and these tasks wouldn't be done if I did quit, why not lessen the work before burnout?
Good question.
In a lot of companies, there is incentive to perform, which means that there is also incentive to get more out of others who support your role. This means that it isn't necessarily "the company" that is the problem, but the employees themselves. When everyone is looing to maximize their own self, whether it be through monetary remuneration or social capital, the workload is going to increase.
For example, if you will get a 20% bonus if you get Task 1 done, and you need me in order to do it, will you be willing to miss out on the bonus because of my mental health?
Sure, companies aren't necessarily interested in really looking after their employees, but, neither are most people, because ultimately, we are interested in our own maximization and will roll over others inch by inch in order to get there. The same happens in other areas of the world too, where even with our children, we pat them on the back when they are "top of the class", without caring how or what were the costs to others, to accomplish it.
Top performers get rewarded.
As it should be.
Some people want pay equality based on role, but this doesn't take into account differences in individual ability and production. Writing a thousand words isn't an accomplishment, if it doesn't meet goals, expectations and needs. However, in a world of search capabilities and self-directed learning, when something we consume doesn't meet our needs, is it the fault of the author?
These days, we get to pick and choose to a very high degree what we consume, yet we are not very good at asking for what we actually want. While this works in the digital world with algorithmic learning through observation, it doesn't translate well into the physical world, where for example, a trainer is meant to deliver an experience driven by expectations, but not knowing what is actually expected. It is commissioning a painter to paint a picture under the provision that if it is good, they will buy it.
What is good? Is it a portrait or a landscape, abstract perhaps?
As said, I am in the phase of defining goals for the workshops at the moment, because that is a large part of the job done, because once I have the goals, all I need to do is design activities that will logically meet them. The challenge is though, which goals are more important, those of the company, or those of the participants? Because sometimes, they don't align.
But, I enjoy the process and while I don't think I am nearly as sharp as I once was in these areas, it is still enjoyable to solve problems to meet corporate wants, and meet the human needs at the same time. Information dumps, just don't cut it.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Motivating people into decision making, selecting a course of action to reach a rewarding outcome some will fly while others flail. Not an easy task balancing out workshops, however you have had time in the field and will fathom a ways to the end.
Watch your workload always, corporate companies are quick to slide work onto long standing employees without second thought, if one accepts it auto-magically is par for the course.
Yes - and if new people employed are coming in with higher salaries but lower effectiveness, that needs to be addressed too.
Exactly why our youth are leaving for foreign shores, no incentive to grow as businesses run within criteria of reverse Apartheid.
Most established positions twenty years ago, employed staff whom you had to train, they earned equal/more than employees who had 20-30 years in a position, then retrenched!
Keep a wary eye on whatever happens around you within big corporate companies always....
Not always easy to train adults that is for sure. Where I worked most training was done in what they called chunking, small bits building on past bits. I can not imagine what it would be like to train people that I have never met nor know what the company culture was like. It was hard enough training a bunch of yahoo's I already knew.
That is kind of what this is going to be, and it is a multiyear process, as there is the knowing, but the applying as habit takes time and enablement.
Lol, it can be easier to train strangers, as they are not "too familiar" and control themselves a bit more :)
I only had to train co-workers, I sort of liked it, and sort of hated it, but it was stuff that needed to be done.
Or rather often. Many people do a job, which they do not like. They do it only because of necessity. Because they have to do it in order to be able to buy food and drink, and pay the monthly bills. Many people live and work like this.
Sometimes it might be better to do an unliked job - it means that when you go home, you don't have to care about it. Doing something you love, it is always on mind.
It's crazy how close 2023 is. I was just talking to someone else the other day and we were commenting on how Thanksgiving is right around the corner for us in the US. I honestly hate training adults. They are so much worse than the students. They talk to each other the whole time and don't pay attention at all. They are disrespectful. It's funny because I work with teachers and I know that they would never allow the same behavior in their classrooms. You must have the patience of Job!
You should make some of them stand in the corner facing the wall! :D
You can do that these days. Singling people out like that is a violation of their civil rights...
That's why I do for my team. I always encourage them to take risk and responsibility about what transaction they do.
It is hard at times. It seems a lot of people these days don't want to take too much responsibility, even for the areas they are directly responsible for.
I think this is due to the form of assignment. In this case, the workshop participants are assigned by the company to participate in it. There is becoming a blur between their needs and the goals they follow.
Thankfully, those who participate meet you as their coach and mentor. You really get to pay attention to their needs and try to meet what the participants need and what the company needs.
Your two decades of experience have brought you to a position as a person who transfers knowledge and skills well. But you said that you have been a bit "blunt" lately. Ha.. Ha..
Have you prepared a regeneration that will become like you one day, even exceed your ability as your successor cadre, Sir?
Yes, but they are also commission earners, so anything that helps them earn a commission is in their best interest too.
Definitely! been ground down on the stone.
No one wants to be like me, let alone more like me than me :D
For years I have trained for work to adults in the oil industry in my country and I have facilitated at all levels to the organization I represented, besides being an enriching experience for all, the motivation factor of achievement (individual) is a determining factor for group cohesion, at least to achieve that discipline is the common thread to reach (to achieve) business.
Adults, whenever we are as facilitators or students, the inner child becomes restless and restless in many of them; I would say that a child behaves even better.
I am sure that everything will go very well. Make small groups if you are not going to have someone to assist you so that you can personalize the training with some strategies (group dynamics) to establish the human connection in order to achieve the overall objective of the workshop...it is my suggestion...it is just my humble opinion.
I think that most children who like to learn, haven't yet been destroyed by the education system. But, they are at least still interested. Some adults are only interested in complaining about what they are given, even though they give nothing themselves.
I think training in the oil industry might be interesting work!
I think that most children who like to learn, haven't yet been destroyed by the education system. But, they are at least still interested. Some adults are only interested in complaining about what they are given, even though they give nothing themselves.
I think training in the oil industry might be interesting work!
In fact, it is very interesting and involves all the training of human talent for productive and quality work at all levels within the industry and related sectors inside and outside the country. A great experience of education for life.
It seemed an extreme reality. The reason is that I also trained in a training institute for one year and we are all jobbers. Everyone here is playful and more playful than even children. It sounds surprising but true.
There are lots of jobbers out there!
That will be really a difficult task for you.. Why not request for a support to release the stress from your end
I might end up with some - but I guess they have to justify flying any extras around the world. These events aren't cheap :)
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STOPWorkshops: clash of egos, make new friends, or good network
Companies: survive even without former superstar
Work: nice to have became expected
Global sales conference! That's a term I haven't heard for a long time, due to cost cutting and COVID.
Was gonna say, you guys are planning way ahead for 2023, but looking at calender, it only two full months away. It's so scary how time flies.
I've come across a lot of people who have made a lot of mistakes due to the fact that they don't know how to place the most pressing needs before other things.
When you don't place your needs and wants in order of their importance, you will find yourself counting loss at the end of the day.
You sure did 👍.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece with us 🤗🤗🤗.
It's true, training adults can be difficult. My husband does this for a living, and the stories he has...
While each student thinks they know what they need in training, they often try to skip the fundamentals that help them understand what they need to learn. That's where good training comes in, knowing where to start so the student gets what they need.
That's usually the heavy cross to drag along the way & bear stoically by efficient people. ¿Isn't it?
Meh, efficiency or inefficiency - one or the other.
Well, then maybe it'd be best if you stop smiling for a while or smile less while doing your job. Probably then the company would consider hiring a new member in your team faster to help you alleviate the burden of such a heavy cross dragged out only by your own. ;o)
I rarely smile these days. Perhaps if I smiled more.
Oh! in that case, just do all the opposite of what you've been doing so far to see if it improves the prospect of having your workload lightened by your employer. :)