Post-training Certification – Get the Most Out of Your Training Investment

I’ve been involved in the training world for almost 20 years, focusing on both development and facilitation. During these many years, I’ve seen companies fully committed to ensuring their employees receive the necessary training to help them become more knowledgeable on policies, processes, products and service offerings. And, as our economy continues to strengthen, organizations are allocating even more investment and resources in training and development.

Often, organizations are quick to dedicate these resources to provide valuable training and instruction with the end-goal of creating a more talented and knowledgeable workforce. I’ve seen great gains from completed training, and I’ve also witnessed instances where anticipated training gains lasted mere days or, if lucky, weeks after stepping out of the “classroom”.

Companies who understand that training doesn’t end in the classroom, and that training is just the first step in an ongoing learning journey, are the ones who reap the greatest ROI on their training dollars. Support and focus shouldn’t end when the training is complete. Training completion needs to be viewed as the starting point – a common language and approach – that helps employees further engage with customers, thus creating a more loyal and satisfied customer base.

So what takes place when the training is delivered? The next, and just as important, step is certification.

Successful companies understand that by measuring the impact of training, actionable information can be captured to assist in improving not only processes in place, but also aid in the balance of efficiency and effectiveness. Points of pain can be identified through a successful tracking mechanism in place – a mechanism fueled by certification.

To learn more about post-training certification and how to get the most out of your training investment, take a look at an article I authored recently in CRM Magazine.  (Link here)