How much training is actually applied on the job? PART 1

At the recent ASTD Conference and Expo in San Diego several presenters asked a common question about interpersonal/leadership training, “What percentage of this kind of training do you think is retained by your employees?” Answers ranged from 2-20%.
Of course, there probably is no one “correct” answer to that question. Many variables contribute to the retention or lack of retention of training. But if the question was, “What percentage of this kind of training is actually applied to the job?” we’d probably all agree the number is pretty low.
Why is that? Most employees want to do the best job they can. They certainly have the capacity for learning and the willingness to change, especially if it’s in their best interest to do so. What roadblocks prevent the utilization of training? In our work, we’ve identified several reasons.
First, everyone is a lot busier today. People have more responsibility but fewer resources to get things done. For example, in our role as performance consultants in a major industry, we’ve experienced managers responding to their e-mails during meetings that they had called! No wonder so many don’t pay full attention during a training session. Another consequence of having busier people is that conventional training is reinforced less frequently back on the job. Reinforcement and coaching of new skills is critical, but takes time away from normal job duties – time that is often considered too valuable to “waste.”
Second, everyone wants instant results. We all strive for quickness and immediacy – that’s what high-speed internet, cell phones, PDAs and other devices that connect us with the world are all about. So when a person who just concluded a major business deal in 5 minutes via his PDA discovers that he will need to spend hours learning a new skill, some resistance is perhaps understandable. Or, when a person is accustomed to getting immediate answers online, she may wonder why she has to wait weeks for the next training program.I’ll conclude this topic in a few days and touch on some answers to this issue.