Training & more

[lakshmi_amman]

So, 3 weeks is better than 3 years, right?

My topic of the day is Training.  Oddly, today is a nexus of thoughts on training.  It's got 2 vectors going at work (the life of a nerd manager is regularly full of training!), plus the Great Burlesque Expo (be there or wish you were!) where I'll be teaching and I'm asst. class coordinator, and the next 4

Comments

[aminahfiddler]

Wow. Thoughtful. I never thought about training/learning this way. To me, it's always been a chore. But then, I do take classes and learn and share so it's not that it's a chore as much as when I think. "I'm going to training this week" I think yuck boring I doubt I'll learn. But then I get super geeked over "band camp" and reading a manual about something new I'd like to learn.

Now I need to go and rethink my attitude. Thanks. No really I don't even mean that sarcastically. See I learned something today. :-)

[lakshmi_amman]

:) I KNOW you like to learn!

Interesting that for you corporate training = time wasting, while voluntary learning = fun.

You point out another good point - format is really important. I don't want a lecture on a technology tool, I want something hands on, and sometimes all I really want is a good book. I like discussion based formats for management education, but I also like audio books.

A few years back, one of our grumpy but brilliant engineers got really steamed because we wouldn't get him Safari, and we would pay as much (per seat) for our cheesy online book source. Both the quality of the Safari content, and the better reading format of it. When I think of how much his self-paid-for Safari account benefitted the team, I can't help but think management was quite short sighted.

[jducoeur]

Honestly, I've long since concluded that even for engineering, much of the best training is free -- but you *have* to be motivated.

The thing is, at level of programming I do, there just isn't much cost-effective formal training. Out at the bleeding edge (especially for a generalist like me), the only training you're going to find usually comes from high-priced consultants, and it's rarely worth it. But that's rarely necessary if you are motivated to explore, surf, find cool topics, teach yourself and experiment.

So the main investment my company (wherever I'm working) is really making in training me is *time*, and I make no bones about that. I expect to spend 2-8 hours a week on research and self-education, week in and week out, all the time. I do that on company time with no apologies -- it's how I keep myself sharp, and keep the company informed about the cutting edge. In exchange, I share anything interesting and relevant that I find, usually with emails to whichever group seems relevant...