Companies spend a lot of time and money on recruiting the best talent possible, and one way to assure a return on that people investment is to have a formalized plan for both initial training and ongoing development. In the first days, weeks and months of employment, the focus needs to be on effective onboarding, which consists of orientation and training to learn about the organization and the basics of a new role. Once an employee is acclimated and productive, keeping the focus on ongoing growth and improvement yields benefits for the person and the organization.
Although TRAINING and DEVELOPMENT are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually two different processes with distinct attributes and value to employees and the business.
1) Focus
The focus of TRAINING is on equipping people to perform the JOB or ROLE. It is all about ensuring the ABILITY to complete required tasks. Training applies to employees who are new to the company or to a position, as well as to existing employees who need to add or improve skills as technology and business needs change. Training exists primarily to meet organizational requirements and, as such, it is a company-centric process.
On the other hand, the focus of DEVELOPMENT is on the PERSON and their CAREER PROGRESSION. Typically, development applies to existing employees once they have reached a level of competency in their current role. It is about understanding the interests and goals of the employee and preparing them for future POSSIBILITY. Most often, that is done in the context of meeting future company needs as well, but, in some cases, a person may realize that advancement opportunity lies outside the current organization. Although Human Resources and managers should provide support and resources, development is ultimately the responsibility of the individual; in that respect, it is a person-centric process.
2) Timeframe
In general, the time orientation of TRAINING is relatively short-term, meaning days, weeks or a few months. It is a much more tactical activity that is expected to yield positive results and improve performance in the here and now.
In contrast, DEVELOPMENT is most commonly referred to as "long-term development". It is strategic in nature and oriented to solving future challenges. It is a planned investment that may not be expected to manifest results for many months or even years.
3) Scope
TRAINING is usually limited in scope with very specific and tangible objectives. It either involves technical knowledge, tools and skills or familiarity with rules, policies and procedures, and it results in predictable outcomes in terms of actions or behaviors. Another way to describe it would be the addition or improvement of "hard skills".
DEVELOPMENT encompasses a much wider scope with more philosophical or theoretical concepts. Although a development plan may include some elements of technical training, more often the subject areas are less tangible and cover "soft skills" such as building relationships, effective communication and decision-making. The intent is to provide breadth of knowledge and a foundation for growth and increased potential. Although it is usually associated with management or leadership roles, development should be part of performance discussions with all employees. In the scheme of things, it is a small investment of time and attention on the part of managers, and it serves to reinforce the principle that people are the most important asset in a business.
4) Delivery Methods
Historically, TRAINING was provided by a trainer in classrooms at scheduled times, but technology has changed our expectations and available methods. Although in-person seminars or workshops are still an option, today training is much more commonly delivered on-line and on-demand, whether as an e-learning module or a webinar. Regardless, the content is still largely designed with groups in mind and is rarely customized to individuals.
DEVELOPMENT is a highly individualized process because it is focused on a person, not an organization or group. A development plan may call for elements of traditional training, but it also usually includes multiple approaches for more holistic learning such as coaching, mentoring, job rotations, case studies, and special projects.
Why It’s Important
Training and development are both valuable processes in a company, but for different reasons. Understanding that difference enables leaders to plan and implement the appropriate initiative in order to achieve the desired results.
Effective TRAINING can improve targeted business performance outcomes such as productivity, quality, safety and customer satisfaction. However, without a clear objective or "WIIFM" (What’s In It For Me), employees sometimes view training as a burden and a distraction from their "real job" and even something to avoid, if possible.
Because DEVELOPMENT planning is focused on supporting long-term personal growth and career advancement, it creates a context for training and a higher level of buy-in and engagement by the individual. It’s a win-win situation: The employee has the opportunity to become more valuable to their current (and possibly future) employer, while the business benefits from improved problem-solving, decision-making and leadership capability.
The performance of a business is only as good as the performance of its people. Because the human capability of an organization must constantly improve to keep pace with change and competitive pressure, smart leaders will make sure to plan for and invest in both TRAINING and DEVELOPMENT for their employees.
Thanks to Diane Janovsky of HPI Solutions for contributing this terrific article.