Alive and Well at the End of the Day, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 16INVESTING IN TRAINING

Training is probably the least effectively used management tool in industry and business.

—William McGehee and Paul Thayer

Every year industrial companies invest billions of dollars training their people; and safety training represents a considerable chunk of that expense. When put into practice, all too often the execution of that substantial and important investment in safety training looks like this.

1:10 p.m., Department Training Room

An hour into the annual refresher training on the company’s life‐critical safety procedures, the front‐line supervisor surveys the scene from the back of the classroom. What the leader sees is not a pretty picture.

The lights have been dimmed and the latest in what seems like a never‐ending show of PowerPoints shows on the screen. The course instructor, facing the screen, drones on.

As to the course participants—all followers of this leader—the effect is totally predictable—and looks even worse.

The signs of boredom are unmistakable: there’s a side conversation about the upcoming hunting season. One student is engrossed in a crossword puzzle, another is scrolling through text messages. At least those four are still awake. As for the rest—well, daydreaming might be the kindest characterization as to their level of engagement.

Who could blame them, the supervisor thinks. It’s not like they haven’t heard this stuff so many times before.

It’s not hard to feel sympathy for the safety department staff member, ...