Always be Prepared…
Have you ever wondered how you can prepare perfectly for someone or a group of people without 1) asking them 2) becoming them?
Have you ever tried to buy a present or a gift for someone and you keep wondering what to buy? If it’ll be what the person wants or at least what they need?
This is the sort of dilemma that goes on in my head when International leaders meeting draws close…
Rewind…
I work as the Director, Strategy and Country Development for a not-for-profit, faith based organisation called Youth With a Purpose Initiatives (www.ywap.org). One of the details of my job is to come up with strategies that ensure the objective of the organisation is met and then enforce these strategies so they are replicated through all the 30 centres we have in Nigeria. The “Chosen way” to do this is by having a leadership retreat where we gather all the leaders for training and equipping, communication and bonding.
For every time we have to meet, I have to come up with the programme schedule which includes what will be taught and who will teach them, more like a curriculum that is strategic in meeting the organisations goal. If you find yourself in a bind of what to teach whether it is planning for leaders in top organisations, or preparing a teaching plan for children or for your staff in a small and medium scale enterprise, here is what I do:
1: Conduct a needs assessment:
This already sounds like it will be difficult, I mean, what kind of word is needs assessment? It is simply finding out what the people you want to train need the most vis-a-vis the goal the organisation is trying to achieve. There is really no point giving information to people when they don’t need it.
A) How do you do this?
i. You can use questionnaires and/or surveys. This method is used a lot by organisations to assess the minds and disposition of the people. To know the areas they should lean towards and they can judge this either by the areas people have less clue about or the areas that give them the most challenge.
ii. Interviews: This does not have to be rigid or formal, I would even advice that you take the casual/informal route when doing this, it will bring out more information that is honest.
iii. Observation: As a trainer, strategist or leader of your group or organisation, observation is key. Sometimes include tasks and activities in the work schedule of your employees just to observe. Sometimes allow them anchor meetings you have or answer a question that you would otherwise answer. By observing their everyday routine as well as their responses to impromptu situations you can get an inkling of what areas to develop.
iv. Family time: This may not be suitable for your organisation so take the advice with caution. This is a time where you get your staff in a meeting that resembles a town hall meeting. Call it “family time”, “Lunch with the gang” or whatever funny/causal name you want to give it. It is to be a platform where your employs are free to tell you what it is that needs change and improvement.
This is a double edge sword if used properly; you get the information you need, the employees get to feel a sense of belonging knowing their voices are heard and better, when they see their suggestions implemented.
With these few points of mine, I hope I have been able to help in teaching how to strategically prepare for a training.
