Run Training Sessions With Experts From Your Organization

Face it — if your organization has done a great job hiring, then you have some experts on your team. And by experts I mean those who have the talents, strengths and passions to be effective in their roles. Think power performer.

So if your team has experts, how can you incorporate them into raising the learning, thinking and performance of your entire team? Consider having them host recurring internal training.

In my organization we have started our Lunch and Learn program. Every other week we present a one-hour education program (with lunch). The first of the two programs each month is a performance skill (customer service, communication, time management, etc.); the second of the two programs is a specific workplace skill (product or service education, using a tool/equipment/resource, etc.).

Monthly, every employee participates in performance and workplace skill development. Management teaches the performance skill; a team member (expert) teaches the workplace skill.

Here are three reasons to include experts in your internal education plan:

1. It shares expert perspectives with the organization – skills are taught by the most capable person.

2. It amplifies the expert’s skills – in preparing to teach, even an expert increases his skill level.

3. It reminds employees of the capabilities and strengths of the existing team. Employees see the wisdom and abilities of the presenting employee and the resources available on the team.

So find the experts among your organization. Help each one craft a 45-minute training program that highlights something they do well and that would benefit other employees.  Create a culture that inspires employees to step up to be responsible and accountable for the learning and skill development of the organization. This creates an organization that thinks its way through the day.

> More about employee training and retention on the Mindflash blog.

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Jay Forte is a nationally ranked thought leader and President of Humanetrics. Jay guides organizations – their leaders and managers – in how to attract, hire and retain today’s best talent. He is the author of “Fire Up! Your Employees and Smoke Your Competition” and “The Greatness Zone – Know Yourself, Find Your Fit, Transform The World.” Jay is a member of SHRM, ASTD, the National Speakers Association and the Florida Speakers Association. follow him on Twitter.

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