Push or Pull?

      Traditional training systems typically employ a "tell then do" type of application. This is usually displayed with a "see the problem, train on the problem" or ​"train well-in-advance" mentality, otherwise known as a "push" training system. "Push" is used to depict the way the knowledge is transferred. Knowledge is "pushed" out to the masses as the organization sees fit, regardless of whether/when you will use the info. It's like going to school in the traditional sense. Push systems have been the foundational system used in training organizations for decades. They were very successful in the past and still have some success today, however, in the age of instant gratification, "Google", and electronic access, things are changing. The workplace is seeing an influx of employees raised from childhood in the electronic age. This, therefore, has impacted the way successful learning organizations must train for success. The traditional "push" system may prove to be too slow, or provide information at an inopportune time for use. This could lead to learners "zoning-out" during sessions or forgetting the information before they have the chance to utilize it. This latest generation of workers is used to looking up info they need only when ​they need it. So how do we tackle that in an organization and continue to be successful in providing world-class training? The answer may lie in a "pull" system. This is a system that provides information needed in a modality that allows for "point of use" access. Think of this...the user is about to perform a task, and before they do, they access the video, document, online module, etc. that will teach the user what needs to be done. This puts delivery of training much closer to the actual performance of the task. Think of the times that you may have begun to perform a DIY project and you would "YouTube" the video that shows how to do it. The same principle applies in a "pull" system. This allows the user to "pull" the info as needed ​versus hoping they will remember it from a class or module they took weeks or months ago. There are many ways to establish an effective pull system and Success Strategy Training and Development would love the opportunity to discuss this methodology with you and help to incorporate this world-class system into your organization!