The online intersection of training
and technology has forever
changed the world of professional development in all business sectors.
How will it change your life? According
to Anne Hach, executive director for
professional training at Tri-C’s Corporate
College, professional development training — whether online or instructor-led
— can make the difference between success and failure for workers, employers
and entrepreneurs.
Smart Business asked Hach to comment on new educational techniques
that can propel a professional’s career to
new heights.
Why is professional development more
important now than in the past?
More than ever, workers are asked to
do more in an ever-changing and highly
complicated workplace. And the bottom
line in today’s economy is that people
with more skills — more portable and
universally accepted skills — are more
employable.
Additionally, professional development
is imperative regardless of your profession. For example, keeping current as
new versions of computer programs and
updated tools are introduced, as well as
becoming more efficient at the basics,
have come to be expected by most
employers.
What are current trends in professional
development?
Soft-skill training is highly in demand.
For one thing, it is easy to apply across
business sectors. It’s also easy to do.
Some of the simplest things can have
the highest impact. One soft-skills
training track that is gaining a lot of
attention is multigenerational management — that is, teaching 50-year-olds
how to manage 25-year-olds, and vice
versa. Classes offer solutions to bridging the generation gap to succeed in
business.
How is the Internet driving the training
industry today?
Every day, more people and organizations are using the Internet for training.
One advantage is that online training is
self-paced, convenient and private. A
major benefit is that training can be completed from anywhere a student has a
computer and an Internet connection. Tri-C offers approximately 1,000 online training courses, and enrollment is increasing
exponentially with each school semester.
But not everyone is a believer. An entire
class of people still prefers an instructor-led environment. For most topics taught
online, there is also an instructor-led version. And perhaps the most interesting
thing is that the division between online
learning fans and traditional classroom
advocates doesn’t have anything to do
with age. We find that learning styles —
not age — drives the need for both delivery methods.
How can students and employers gauge the
success of training?
A clear trend in professional development today is the focus on specific, tangible results of training. Learning outcomes are as important as content.
People need to acquire skills that they
can transfer to their workplace immediately. Progressive schools go beyond
just learning information to give students the opportunity to practice their
skills so that when they take those
skills with them into the workplace,
they can hit the ground running. We
encourage people to discuss actual situations that they face at work so that we
are dealing in real-world problems, not
abstract case studies.
In addition to training benefits that
both employers and employees reap,
employees feel valued when given the
opportunity to participate in training and
improve their skills. After training, many
participants leave with the feeling that,
‘My employer values me.’
What are some new developments around
the clustering of skills?
Across the industry, we are increasing
the number of certificate programs we
offer because research shows that taking a series of courses around a subject
can increase knowledge, skills and abilities at a much higher level than simply
taking one class. One of our target
tracks is geared toward administrative
professionals.
Now, instead of learning to type faster,
participants are learning how to improve
their writing skills while typing faster.
This clustering of skills also makes
sense for sales professionals where
training includes classes in presentations, communication and negotiation.
ANNE HACH is the executive director for professional training
at Tri-C’s Corporate College. For further information on
Corporate College, a division of Cuyahoga Community College,
phone (866) 806-2677 or visit www.corporatecollege.com.
Reach Hach at (216) 987-2962 or [email protected].
