Rolling out new eGovernment software and need to train the entire organization?
This blog explores how the cost-effective train-the-trainer approach can efficiently cascade knowledge through your agency and grow your internal pool of system experts.
What Is the Train-the-Trainer Approach?
Train-the-trainer is a training framework where experienced trainers teach a subset of people who will then use the learned concepts to teach others. Learned concepts include using the new software and training skills like building course content, demo examples, and exercises.
For example, when conducting training on eGov software, an experienced Vision33 trainer hosts a small, interactive session to train several employees from each department. Those internal trainers then teach their departments and integrate their own processes and use cases.
Why Use the Train-the-Trainer Approach?
Professional Development
The best way to learn is to teach others, and this method offers an excellent opportunity to master the new software by training other staff. The experience employees get from training develops confidence, leadership, communication, and organization skills.
Personalized and Relatable
Because the internal trainers are experts within the business, they’re familiar with their departmental processes, organizational culture, and customers’ needs. That allows them to customize the training for their business processes/procedures.
Relatable content and real-life examples will resonate better with the staff than generic training. Engaged and well-trained employees are essential for a successful software implementation.
Continuous Learning
Because train-the-trainer empowers internal users to become system experts, the knowledge remains in-house. This investment is critical for employee engagement and retention, especially during a software change initiative.
Having easily accessible, knowledgeable, and relatable points of contact for training and follow-up assistance is a significant advantage. These ‘software-change champions' support and reinforce the system and business processes beyond the implementation.
Cost-Effective and Efficient
Training a smaller subset of system experts is more cost-effective than providing external training for all staff. It’s also an efficient way to spread consistent knowledge throughout the organization. Using internal trainers builds an internal network to share information, eliminates the cost of an external trainer, and doesn’t add a financial limit to the number of trainees. The training is also more agile and reactive, with one-on-one or small group sessions possible whenever needed.
Who Makes a Good Trainer?
Experienced employees who are well-respected role models, have good communication skills, and are willing to help others make good trainers. They must also be engaged and on board with the new software to successfully teach other users.
Key Success Factors
The success of the train-the-trainer approach largely depends on the internal trainers. If they can’t master the system or successfully teach their peers, the model will fail.
And while it’s assumed that staff will be more open to learning from their colleagues, an external trainer might be considered more important than internal training sessions. Building the internal training network and clearly communicating the strategy to the employees will help prevent this situation.
You also need to continuously monitor the internal trainers to ensure their training and training skills are always current.
Summary
The train-the-trainer approach offers professional development opportunities and a sense of community among your employees. This long-term strategy also supports your eGov software investment and successful implementation.
Questions? Drop us a line.
Bev Penney, a Vision33 Senior Consultant, is passionate about leading, coaching, and training. With 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Bev has a broad understanding of government technology platforms and solutions and is an expert in strategic planning, gathering, analyzing, and defining business and functional requirements.
