Training is not education; it is merely one part of creating an environment where people grow
The misconception that training equals education
A misconception that many companies fall into is
"We conducted training," "We completed the curriculum," "We taught the knowledge"
Therefore, employees will grow. Development has been successful.
However, this is a major misconception.
Knowledge might be conveyed through training. Qualifications might be obtained. They might even say they "understand" in the moment.
But whether a new graduate actually grows after being assigned to a department is a different issue.
In fact, things like this happen:
"I learned it in training, but I can't use it in my department"
"I was in trouble because the atmosphere made it impossible to ask my boss questions"
"I was blamed for my mistakes and became discouraged"
"I didn't feel like I was growing, so I quit after three months"
The quality of training and actual growth are completely separate issues.
What is an environment where people grow?
So, what is necessary for people to grow?
In my 18 years of HR experience, this is what I have seen.
An environment where people grow requires multiple elements.
1. Pre-assignment follow-up
Resolving anxiety through multiple interviews
Explaining job duties in advance
Introduce supervisors and mentors
Show career paths
② Building relationships with supervisors
Consideration: Thinking about the other person's pace and feelings
Respect: Having an ear to listen to the other person's opinions
Curiosity: An attitude of trying to understand the other person
③ Psychological safety
An environment where failures can be discussed
An atmosphere where opinions can be voiced
Opportunities for learning, not reprimand
④ Regular feedback
Daily or weekly small feedback
Accumulating a sense of growth
Thinking about behavioral improvements together
⑤ Career support
Showing the path to skill acquisition
Thinking about future visions together
Providing growth opportunities
Only when these elements work together comprehensively do people truly grow.
Training is merely "one" part of that.
Where does "training" fit among the five elements mentioned above?
In fact, it is only partially included within 1. Pre-assignment follow-up.
In other words, it is like this.
An environment where people grow is only realized when these five elements work together comprehensively.
Pre-assignment follow-up
Building relationships with supervisors
Psychological safety
Regular feedback
Career support
And among those five elements, "training" merely functions as a part of pre-assignment follow-up.
In short, training is just one component of creating an environment for people to grow.
Nevertheless, many companies:
Focus their efforts on training programs
Spend costs on training
Are satisfied with having "comprehensive training"
However, if elements 2, 3, 4, and 5 are missing, training will not be effective.
In fact, knowledge learned in training may not be utilized in the assigned department, leading new graduates to become confused and eventually resign.
Actions companies should take now
The era of reviewing the quality of training is over.
What is required of companies now is "to comprehensively create an environment where people grow."
Specifically:
Strengthening pre-assignment follow-up
Improving the supervisor's approach to development (consideration, respect, and curiosity)
Building psychological safety
Establishing a regular feedback system
Implementing career support
And training should be positioned as just one part of that.
Training alone does not develop people.
It is only through the entire environment that people truly grow.
Training is the means; an environment where people grow is the goal.
In my 18 years of HR experience, I have worked with over 3,000 new graduates.
From that experience, I have realized something.
Training is important. I truly believe it is vital.
However, the pitfall many companies fall into is thinking that 'enhancing training is everything when it comes to development.'
In reality, training is just a small part of creating an environment for people to grow.
What is truly important is pre-assignment follow-up, building relationships with supervisors, psychological safety, feedback, and career support—all of these working together comprehensively.
Training should be integrated into that.
If you feel that 'our training is comprehensive, yet new graduates are not staying or growing,' it may not be a problem with the training, but a problem with the entire development environment.
Would you like to think about this together?
Finally
"Our company has extensive training, yet new graduates don't stay." "The training curriculum is perfect, but they struggle after being assigned." "I don't feel like the employees are growing."
To companies facing these concerns:
This may not be a training issue, but rather an issue with the entire environment in which people grow.
I will discuss this in detail through consulting on recruitment, retention, and development.
Please feel free to consult with me via DM first.
I share practical know-how regarding recruitment, retention, and development every week. If you resonate with this, I look forward to your heart❤️! I also look forward to your follow.
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