August-September-2021 - 40

P R OF E S S I ON A L I S M
The Paradox of Training
and Development
The issue of developing a healthy and robust organizational culture is important
to all of us in the B&GA industry. Regardless of the type of operation, we
need to pay attention to this issue since it will impact the choices we have to
make in developing our teams. Our issues are varied yet profoundly similar
at the core. This applies to a part 91 operation, 135 operation, 145 operation,
FBO, OEM and on and on. We have similar but different organizational issues.
Think of the last formal training you experienced.
By Bob Hobbi
Bob Hobbi is
President and CEO
of ServiceElements
and has more than 35
years of experience in
the aerospace
and business and
general aviation
industry, always
focused on
organizational and
people development.
How did it compare with other training you have had
over the years? Was it aircraft specific or otherwise
technical training? Was it instructional or facilitated?
Was it online, in person, or a combination of both perhaps?
Training needs are changing. We are in a new
era for learning and development.
In order to achieve better training results, we must
segregate and define goals, objectives and expected
outcomes.
Results of successful
human factors training
should be a more effective
organization as a whole.
Unlike some technical training, when it comes to
human factors, often referred to as soft skills, core
skills training has necessarily and naturally transformed
in both content and methodology. Off-the-shelf
programs, which have long operated on the assumption
that one size fits all, now fall short of meeting
the needs of organizations that each have their own
distinct and unique culture, which in the case of a part
91 operations is further influenced by the enterprise
they serve.
So, we need to become more methodical and focused
and Lisa Archambeau
Lisa Archambeau,
vice president,
facilitator & strategist,
ServiceElements
International, Inc.
on what exactly it is that we want to achieve by training
and developing our teams. Do we use traditional
measurement techniques or do we need new thinking
on how we measure training success or failure?
An example of adjusting for future training is sometimes
to first start with un-training your teams! Yes,
you heard it right. What has brought us to this point
may not be enough to take us to the next level. That
means we must open learning space to build a case
40 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
for change before we pave the path for new ways of
doing things. People are inherently opposed to changing
ways and behavior. We all enjoy our comfort zones.
Unlearning the ways of the past should not mean
July 2021 that our past was wrong or should be disrespected,
it just means we are evolving with our new
challenges and shifting purposes.
New Training Ideas
In response to these new challenges and shifting
needs, impactful training and development, with a
focus on core skills, is evolving to be more customized
and personal. It begins with meeting the organization
and its people where they are, and unearthing where
they need to be or want to be. Are they a team that
has been working together a long time? Is there an
influx of new people due to organizational growth or
high turnover? Has there been a recent change which
requires leadership to adopt intentional, thoughtful
and strategic adjustments?
Questions to Ask
* Are we aligned with the expectation of our PAX,
customers, users?
* Is our current operating process capable of meeting
our customers' current needs?
* When was the last time we updated out processes
to address changes and new expectations?
* Is our current culture reactive and constantly
stretching to meet new expectations?
* Are we driving and developing our culture to " manage
expectations " or are we constantly reacting
to expectations?
* Is our team on the same page regarding our,
department and organization goals, objectives
and direction? Objectives that change much more
frequently this day than ever before.
* Many more questions that traditionally we have
not been concerned about are now confronting
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
August-September-2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August-September-2021
