CHAPTER 11

Future of Training and Development

Objectives: To identify directions for the training field.

To recognize foundations of Training and Development.

To identify topics for the future.

To understand the steps for entry into training and development.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. No other aspect of communication has greater potential than training and development.

B. Training offers a combination of those factors in communication that combine research with teaching skills in an ever-changing environment.

C. Great need for trainers due to:

1. Society itself is undergoing very rapid changes in...

a. the ways we accomplish things.

b. the ways we now process ideas.

c. The ways we conduct ourselves in our jobs.

d. Rapidly changing society demands that we constantly upgrade our skills so that we can adjust to the needs of our jobs and our environment.

2. We have reached what many futurists call the INFORMATION AGE.

II. FOUNDATIONS

A. PEOPLE SKILLS

1. More pople are now employed in some fomr of service industries than in manufacturing or related fields.

2. Service is essentially offering something to another individual.

3. As more people move into service-based industries, the more they need "people skills."

4. Training is a service conducted on a very professional level.

B. COMMUNICATION/TRANSPORTATION SOCIETY

1. We rely less on transportation and more on communication.

2. A greater emphasis on communication will create a demand for more trainers to provide the skills necessary to communicate effectively.

C. THE INFORMATION AGE

1. Because we are being bombarded by information we must learn to cope with the volume of material we receive in both written and oral form.

2. Having an information base necessitates that we learn how to communicate not only effectively, but efficiently.

3. Williams & Dordick (1983)

FIVE CHANGES THAT AFFECT SOCIETY

a. Communication is becoming a substitute for expensive transportation.

b. Information is becoming a commodity in or post-industrial economies.

c. Network information services are bringing "everything" into the home.

d. Electronic leisure is one of the fastest growing components of our society.

e. Educational practices are making their greatest advances.

4. The trainer is the one with the right skills who can develop the technological society and advancements in educational practices.

III. TOPICS - KEY AREAS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATION THAT WILL BE VIABLE FOR TRAINERS

A. Develop skills to assist trainees in developing their abilities to COPE WITH CHANGE.

1. How do we communicate change?

2. How do we adapt to change using communication as the underlying process?

B. Develop skills in the are of LISTENING and the skills taht are necessary to make us both CRITICAL LISTENERS as well as EMPATHIC LISTENERS.

C. Develop and focus the skills of PUBLIC SPEAKING.

(no other skill has been demonstrated to separate the true leaders from followers)

D. Develop the ability to FACILITATE GROUPS as well as develop good GROUP COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

E. Develop the ability to use GROUP PROCESS for PROBLEM SOLVING.

F. Develop the ability to deal with CONFLICT and CONFLICT RESOLUTION.

(trainers need to train people in the art and science of conflict negotiation and resolution).

G. STRESS and STRESS MANAGEMENT and STRESS REDUCTION.

(offer skills in interpersonal communication leading toward the resolution of stress).

H. Offer training in how we communicate about our ETHICS and what kind of ETHICAL STANDARDS we have.

IV. PROCESS - The Role of the Trainer

A. Dynamic Role of Facilitator

1. Information Exchange

2. Processor of Information

3. Interpreter

4. Mediator

5. Facilitator between the person and the machine

6. Trainers task is to make sure we understand and are understood in our communication with others.

B. Computer Assisted Instruction

C. Teleconferenceing

D. Stand-Up Trainer

V. ENTRY

A. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - designed for someone who wants to go into the Training and Development Field.

B. If already employed in an organization, attempt to TRANSFER TO THE TRAING PROGRAM - or VOLUNTEER to do Training programs for the company.

C. STRIKE OUT ON YOUR OWN!

D. INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

1. Apprenticeship

2. Opportunity to Gain Credit and Experience

VI. SUMMARY

A. FOUNDATIONS FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT - Key Issues

1. Service based society

2. Less Emphasis on Manufacturing

3. More Emphasis on Communication and Information

B. VIABLE CONTENT AREAS

C. FOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR BREAKING INTO THE TRAINING FIELD