How to Coach Yourself and Others How To Perform On The Job Coaching | Page 41
off-the-job training costs being higher than on-the-job training. There is nothing complicated about
approaching training systematically. It might be more sensible to describe it as a common sense or
logical approach. For example, it would be difficult to coach a trainee if you had no idea of what
they were doing wrong or accurately design a piece of training without identifying the standard
against which the trainee would be assessed.
Now read a bit more about approaching training in a systematic manner below and try doing
Activity 3A which will help you to understand a bit more about the connection between training and
coaching.
6.5 A Systematic Approach To Training
In carrying out a systematic approach to training, you are following what is often called “The
Training Cycle”. This is described in the diagram below:
Each box represents a stage in the cycle and is defined as follows:
Training Needs
Training Needs represent the gap between what the job demands and the trainee's current
competence, i.e. the trainee's current level of knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience. It is
important that this stage is carried out carefully, otherwise the trainee may become a victim of
either too much or too little training. In both cases, unnecessary expense is the result. Too little
training could leave the trainee incompetent and de-motivated and in need of further training, too
much training could result in expectations on the part of the trainee that could not be met and which
may lead to low morale.
Training Requirements
Training Requirements can be identified by performing needs analysis, job analysis, and/or task
analysis. Analyses form the basis for determining training needs, developing and maintaining valid
task lists, and selecting tasks that must be trained on. To facilitate tracking and revisions of training
materials on the basis of facility or procedural changes, task lists are entered into systems such as
task-to-training matrices. Correctly done, these analyses provide assurance that training is
41