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Step 1: Identifying Training Needs

All stages of The Training Cycle are important; but if you don't address the right issues, or if you fail to identify actual training needs, then your training will not achieve what you want it to. 

Its really common for an assumption to be made about what the training need is, or for a training request to be so generic that it doesn't serve any particular need.

During this stage it is important to address two questions:

1. What is the current situation?
2. What is the desired outcome, or ideal situation?

The difference between these two is sometimes called 'The Gap'. Training should only be used to fill that gap. In order to figure out exactly what your training should focus on, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What new knowledge, skills or attitudes are desired?
• Which specific problems or issues do you need to be solved?
• What are the opportunities that can be realised if this were the case?
• Who is the training for? (be specific!)
• Why do they need it?
• How many people would / could benefit from the training?

Ultimately, if you don't have a well defined training need, maybe you don't need training?

Next Step: Design Training >>

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