Get the most from your online training sessions!

We do a lot of online training with our RESolutionsTECH clients and over time I have noticed several issues, or hindrances, that sometimes prevent the participants from getting the full, long term benefits from the training. Here I hope to outline some of those so that you can avoid the same pitfalls in any training experience that you and your team participate in.




---Participants coming to the session without the proper background

While obviously the purpose of each session is to train the participants on the given topic, rarely, if ever, should that topic be completely brand new to them. You will always get more from any training session if you have at least a little bit of background and know the minimum basics of the topic being discussed. The given session will always be more relevant, interesting and worthwhile if that basic knowledge is there beforehand. This is especially true with topics like queries and mail merges – if the participants have had a chance to work in those areas, get a sense what those functions do and even experience some of the frustrations people typically have, the training sessions will feel much more relevant, meaningful and useful.



---Completing the topics in a random order

Sometimes it is necessary to jump ahead to a given topic due to urgency. For example, an important mailing needs to go out ASAP, let’s get the mail merge session done first. We are always happy to accommodate special requests like that, however, having said that, there is a logical order, at least for the first few sessions, and participants benefit from following that step-by-step progression.



---Participants not applying the content of the sessions to their daily tasks

A big part of any training is simply to help make your daily work life easier and run smoother. Our goal is to remove the frustration that technology can cause and assist you in performing your daily tasks more efficiently and more accurately. There is, however, an onus on the participants of the session to take what was covered and apply those new concepts and processes to how they perform their day to day responsibilities and tasks. The quicker the content is applied to real world scenarios, the more relevant the material will seem.



---Not taking specific sessions that are uniquely relevant to a given person’s role at the organization

Many of the training sessions that I do are quite generic and would be relevant to anyone in the organization that uses Raiser’s Edge©. There are, however, a few that are tailored to a person’s role. For example, if there is an event manager or a volunteer coordinator at your organization, those very specific sessions are quite valuable for them. It is important to know what is available and if a specific topic is not listed, we are always happy to accommodate special requests and needs – the key point is ensuring that all of your team members have the tools and knowledge they need to effectively complete their daily tasks and responsibilities in the most timely and efficient manner possible. For a brief outline of the typical Raiser’s Edge© sessions that we do, please feel free to reach out to us at support@resolutionstech.com



---Participants not taking away enough from a training session

It is important that the attendees are engaged and interested and some of that responsibility is in the hands of the person conducting the session, but there is also a responsibility that the attendees have as well. Questions should be asked, real world scenarios presented, and an attendee should never leave a session with questions unasked/unanswered or without feeling that they are now ready to apply the information provided in the session to their daily work. The sessions that I do can sometimes be more “conversational” than “lecture” and I always like to encourage the participants to voice questions, present scenarios and offer insights of their own.



---Participants not requesting additional information or follow-ups

After a session is completed the participants are always welcome to reach out to me and ask follow-up questions, review materials, seek assistance and request future training. Training should not be seen as a one-off experience, but rather an on-going relationship between RESolutionsTECH and your team members to ensure everyone is up-to-date, has the skills they require and are fully confident in all they need to accomplish.



At RESolutionsTECH we want you to not only think of us as your technology and Raiser’s Edge© resource, but also your faculty for continual training and upgrading of the skills of your team members. Our role and focus is to assist you and work with you to ensure all of your technology needs are met and that you are completing your tasks in the most time and cost efficient manner possible, and a lot of that is ensuring your team members have all the tools needed as they work with Raiser’s Edge©.

If you are not yet a client of RESolutionsTECH Inc. and you would like to request an online training session or seek more information as to how the sessions work and what is covered, please reach out to us at sales@resolutionstech.com

Thanks.
Peter Lucas
RESolutionsTECH Inc.
P.O. Box 1975
Kingston Ontario
K7L 5J7
Canada

613-539-9830
www.resolutionstech.com