You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

“People will go to a lot of trouble to learn French or physics or scuba diving. They have the patience to learn to operate a car, but they won’t be bothered learning how to operate themselves”

Newman & Berkowitz

When I first saw this it struck my how true this was for so many people I came across within the client organisations where I work. Although the issue is not uniquely British, I have found that it is truer here than in many other countries and cultures where I train. Why is this? Maybe it is a throwback to memories of schooldays? Possibly it is because so much of training is seen as “corrective” rather than developmental. Also, many people think that it is up to their employer to organise any training when required.

There are a wide range of views about training, what it is, what it should cover, who is responsible for organising it and how often it should occur. That is understandable. However, ask yourself whether you should take more ownership for it? After all, it is your job and your career! It is not compulsory to develop your career in terms of promotion or increased responsibility, but you can develop by improving your own skill base within your role or enhancing your personal skills. Perhaps you have been promoted and are expected to handle the challenges that come with it through experience, luck and divine intervention? (Who can remember CJ from Reggie Perrin? “I didn’t get where I am today through……”) Some form of training would help you surely?

What are the benefits of taking a positive and proactive view of your own training? You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

<ish, I have found that it is truer here than in many other countries and cultures where I train. Why is this? Maybe it is a throwback to memories of schooldays? Possibly it is because so much of training is seen as “corrective” rather than developmental. Also, many people think that it is up to their employer to organise any training when required.

There are a wide range of views about training, what it is, what it should cover, who is responsible for organising it and how often it should occur. That is understandable. However, ask yourself whether you should take more ownership for it? After all, it is your job and your career! It is not compulsory to develop your career in terms of promotion or increased responsibility, but you can develop by improving your own skill base within your role or enhancing your personal skills. Perhaps you have been promoted and are expected to handle the challenges that come with it through experience, luck and divine intervention? (Who can remember CJ from Reggie Perrin? “I didn’t get where I am today through……”) Some form of training would help you surely?

What are the benefits of taking a positive and proactive view of your own training? You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

ng, what it is, what it should cover, who is responsible for organising it and how often it should occur. That is understandable. However, ask yourself whether you should take more ownership for it? After all, it is your job and your career! It is not compulsory to develop your career in terms of promotion or increased responsibility, but you can develop by improving your own skill base within your role or enhancing your personal skills. Perhaps you have been promoted and are expected to handle the challenges that come with it through experience, luck and divine intervention? (Who can remember CJ from Reggie Perrin? “I didn’t get where I am today through……”) Some form of training would help you surely?

What are the benefits of taking a positive and proactive view of your own training? You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

role or enhancing your personal skills. Perhaps you have been promoted and are expected to handle the challenges that come with it through experience, luck and divine intervention? (Who can remember CJ from Reggie Perrin? “I didn’t get where I am today through……”) Some form of training would help you surely?

What are the benefits of taking a positive and proactive view of your own training? You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

You gain more control over the areas where you seek training and development. You can also influence what type of training you have, whether coaching, courses or e-learning. You will approach the training in a more open manner and almost certainly gain more from it. Even if you are being “sent” on some training, your attitude and approach will significantly influence what you will gain from it.

Thinking of your career and what you want from it, there are two principle elements where training can help. Basically, these are “technical” skills and knowledge and “personal” skills. From a career maintenance perspective, you need to make sure your technical skills are kept current in both knowledge and also use of technology where required. Your organisation or practice is probably good at making sure that this is available. To develop your career, or maybe your enjoyment of work or other aspects of life, you would probably look to the other part – the “personal” skills.

If you are going to become more proactive about your own training and career progress, how do you decide what areas to address? There is no one, right way. Do you know what the competencies are for your role – and the role you would like to progress to? Find a set of these and assess yourself against these and identify the key areas to develop yourself. If you have some form of appraisal system within your practice, listen to the assessment of how you perform against the various areas of the job. Ask for help and training in the areas you want to improve. Consider doing some self-assessment. What are the things you feel you could improve? What are the areas you would like to learn more about? What are the additional skills you would like to have?

When you have an idea of the areas you want to develop you can do something about getting the appropriate training or support. Remember, not everything has to be done through courses or “classroom” based events. There are different ways of acquiring t