I always say that the best investment is to invest in yourself. If you invest in the right training, you will be able to earn more and more from the acquired competences – so that the price of the training will pay off quickly. What’s more, the knowledge, skills and attitudes you have gained will stay with you forever! Last year I invested very often, and now I am harvesting. Find out how to choose a good training and then read the list of recommended trainings I took part in in 2016.
How to choose a good training
New training companies have been created (which had to do with the wide stream of European Funds) and continue to be created like crazy, and trainers can be found in every field (including self-proclaimed personal development coaches). How to get a grip on all this? How not to be deceived? How to choose a good training that will give you a reasonable return on investment?
- Know your needs. Many people are too impulsive about buying training. They will see an eye-catching advertisement, professionally edited video and buy a ticket without even thinking about why they need such training and what they should get out of it. Not only that – have you heard of education junkie? These are people who almost “get high” to training. Even during the first training, they buy tickets for the second one. You are unlikely to make an appointment with them for the weekend, because on weekends usually… they are training. They spend up to tens of thousands of zlotys a year on training, feeling great, because they are doing something for their development! Of course, it is commendable if, thanks to training, they change themselves, their work, become more effective, etc. The problem, however, arises when all this knowledge and skills… they never take advantage of it. They train for the sake of training, for this “incredible energy”, not realizing that they are lining the pockets of others, just waiting for the victim to sign up for another training. So how do you know that a training course is for you?
- Select the type of development activity. If you think that the only way to gain new competences is through training – you are wrong. Training is just one of the types of development activities that currently have a whole spectrum on the market. These types differ from each other, and are often lumped together (e.g. everything related to personal development is certainly coaching). Below I will explain what each type is characterized by and for whom they are most suitable.
- Training/workshop/training – I’m posting it as one group for the purposes of this article, although there are differences between these activities as well. Their main assumption is to transfer knowledge (more like training) and practice skills (training and workshop). Most often these are group activities, although the training can also be individual. Trainers are called coaches or trainers.
For whom? Choose this group if you primarily want to gain new knowledge and new skills. - Motivational training/event – you are unlikely to learn anything new during such training, but it can (but does not have to, it will not work for everyone) give you motivation to act, energy. The organizers invite speakers who tell inspiring stories or simply shout that “you are a winner” – they pat you on the head. Presenters are called motivational speakers.
- Coaching – that’s what it is. It is a process, a relationship between the coach and the client, which focuses on the client’s goal. A coach does not advise, does not indicate solutions – the coach is “only” the guardian of the goal, i.e. he makes sure that the client is getting closer to achieving it. From the definition of the International Coaching Federation: “Thanks to coaching, clients set more specific goals, optimize their actions, make more accurate decisions and use their natural skills more fully. Professional coaches provide ongoing collaboration specifically designed to help clients achieve satisfactory results in their professional and personal lives. Coaches help people improve their performance and improve their quality of life.For whom? During our studies, we came to the conclusion that it is for everyone, but not for everyone. For those who want to consciously take self-development into their own hands, want to achieve their goals effectively.
- Consultation/advice – again, there are differences here, but you can group them for the purposes of the article. Consultations are about seeking opinions, e.g. on the solutions we have come up with. Consulting is the provision of ready-made solutions, while the advisor takes into account the individual conditions in which the client operates. For whom? For those who are looking for confirmation of the rightness of their actions or are looking for different options, they want to make sure that they are going in the right direction or receive ready-made solutions.
- Career design – is a process that draws handfuls from coaching. It is based on asking questions and performing various exercises by the client, thanks to which he discovers his strengths, passions, and sets a professional goal. A Career Designer supports the client in creating a one-of-a-kind, tailor-made career path and plan. For whom? For people who have finished high school, during and after university, for people starting their professional careers, as well as for those more experienced, especially if they feel the need for changes in their lives.
The list is still long, and you can also add to it: mentoring, seminars, conferences, recently fashionable masterminds, and more obvious ones such as vocational courses or postgraduate studies. However, I wanted to show the differences between the above methods.
- Select “provider”. Once you know what you need and on what topic, you now have to break through the wall of announcements, advertisements… What should you pay special attention to?
- Check the experience of the presenter. Are you sure this is the person you want to learn from? Is he an expert in the field? Does he have qualifications to conduct training in a given area? If you like paperwork (or need it), check if you will get a certificate for participating in the training.
- Check the price. Are you ready to bear the cost? Is the training worth the price – or is the price suspiciously low?
Carefully check the thematic scope and detailed training program. If something like this is not available – don’t take anything blind!
Consider whether participating in the training will allow you to achieve your goals – i.e. meet the needs you thought about in point 1.
Check if references or opinions about the company’s training are available . Their absence does not have to turn on a red light yet (perhaps someone is just starting to conduct training, and has really high qualifications). If they are, check if they are really valuable – whether they evaluate the content or just the organization and taste of coffee during breaks.