Training, in and of itself, is not worthwhile

Saw this note recently in raining Magazine (Nov / Dec 2010 issue, p 52)

Dr. Robert Brinkeroff said in an interview, "What you do before the training and after the training, accounts for more of whether it works or not, than whether the training itself is any good."

AMEN

Training is simply a moment in time. An opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills. But if those new skills aren't practiced back on the job (what you do after training) or management is not prepared to allow for altered work behaviors - to support and reinforce them (what you do before the training) - then the training, in and of itself, is not linked to any changes in behavior and eventually the new knowledge and skills fritter away.