Steve Andreas > Articles > A Consumer's Guide to Good Training

Introduction

Seminars and training are a way to gain many skills, abilities, and attitudes well worth learning. Since training is a significant investment of your time and money, it's important to know how to identify excellent training as soon as possible, and to spot mediocre training in advance. We suggest being an “active consumer,” and investigate seminar possibilities just as you might carefully investigate the purchase of a home or a car. Some “trainings” merely present ideas, rather than actually train you in new skills and abilities. Since most ideas can be presented as well in a book or article, a training of this kind can be a more expensive and time-consuming way to get the same information. Other seminars provide participants with confidence and motivation, but without the behavioral competence to support it. Some seminars are enjoyable, but participants don't leave the training with new skills they can use. Like a concert or a party, they can be worthwhile experiences, as long as they aren't confused with training. How can you be sure you get the most for your training dollars? Here are some of the things we check for when we think about attending a particular training. We hope these guidelines are useful in finding the best training for you.