When professional development and training offerings become routine and dull, it is time to shake things up with a new approach.
There are many ways to deliver professional development to staff. If you find that your staff is tired of workshops, here are some ideas to spark some new enthusiasm into your training program.
Contests
Host a contest with a great prize for the group that produces the most innovative marketing plan for a new product line or service. Create a panel of judges that includes upper management, representatives from different departments and/or clients.
Employee Trades
Offer employees the opportunity to exchange their job with someone else for 1-3 months. If funds allow, include exchanges to other branch offices in different cities. This type of exchange can be very eye opening as it is an avenue for a powerful exchange of ideas
Think Tanks or Retreats
Host a one day retreat or think tank to resolve an ongoing problem. Clearly state what the expected outcome of the day is in order to see a solution generated. Provide the necessary tools such as computers, flip charts and white boards so that the process can be documented.
Best Practices Exchange
Create a web page on the company intranet or other vehicle to document best practices. Dedicate a day for each department to make their contributions. Provide guidelines for a planning meeting to determine who will document certain best practices.
Create a Library
Purchase copies of books that are highly relevant to your company’s industry, corporate values or strategic goals and loan them to staff for one or two week periods. You could also purchase subscriptions to industry magazines or newspapers for the lunchroom.
Do you have an innovative idea that worked in your company? Please start a discussion.
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