In my sixteen plus years in the organization and management development profession, I have never witnessed as severe a decline in corporate training as I do now. Granted, there will always be companies who grow and some who thrive in tough economic times, but the scenario I see and hear most often, from organizations large and small, is one of a struggle to maintain what has taken years to build.

I think we can all agree on the importance of training to organizational success, but the bottom line is, businesses in this economy are struggling. Financial institutions, industry giants, organizations of all types have failed or are teetering on the edge of failure, unemployment is at record highs, our national debt is over 12 trillion dollars, and the list goes on and on.

So what do you do? What is your next step? Where will that step lead you?

Here are some questions I have been asking myself. I would encourage you to ask them of yourself as well…

• What am I doing right that keeps my clients coming back?

• What more can I offer them to add value to our relationship?

• What other strategies or tactics can I implement to gain new clients?

• Are there opportunities for alliances that I have overlooked or set aside?

I am sure there are many of you with suggestions, questions, and comments of your own. I would ask you to share them so we all may learn.

Thank you!

Bob Blake
TrainersDirect
www.trainersdirect.com
blake@trainersdirect.com

In some ways the downturn has been good for trainers, training and learning/development in general. I have seen a strong focus on what is important in developing the business as opposed to 'nice to haves'. This has made the role of L&D much more strategic and aligned to the needs of the organisation rather than the egos of managers.

If dealt with effectively, now is the time to elevate the importance of learning and development and prove its importance to the success of any organisation.

Trainers should now be focusing on what they can do to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.

My solution, I believe, is to seek out a new profession altogether.

As an external trainer, this downturn has indeed been much worse that any previous one I have seen in 25+ years in this profession.

When things were bad in the 80s I had no trouble finding work. Now people are laying off trainers and IDers right and left -- nobody seems to be engaging consultants.

Sadly, the situation in the US shows few signs of improvement with tax increases and future restrictions on businesses looming.

I am looking at trying to find contracts dealing with social learning and other informal learning activities I can do remotely (not even major clients are paying for travel any more). That way I can move outside the US.

quote:

Originally posted by StopSpoonFeedingNow:
My solution, I believe, is to seek out a new profession altogether.

That would be a shame, SSFN, you seem to have a good understanding of this one.