The Economic Environment is Changing and Type Practitioners Must Adapt
by Kris Kiler
A recent discussion with a colleague about online training and the need to create a roadmap for Type Practitioners so they can access the experts they need without wasting billable days or time out of the office led me to think about what’s necessary to deliver effective online training.
There is no doubt that professional trainers and consultants have been tasked over the last few years to find ways to do more with less. Professionals (aka Type Practitioners) using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or some other related instrument or model need to radically adapt to this evolution in economy. Even more so, Type Practitioners understand that the investment in ongoing and up-to-date training is critical to their success. Type Practitioners understand that the application of personality type models is not something you learn in a four-day workshop. They are lifelong learners and know not to keep their head in the clouds. Type practitioners are dedicated to the body of knowledge and community that is constantly growing as well as to the ethical principles that hold them to a higher standard. And in this economic shift, these professionals have looked to online learning to satisfy these critical training needs. Webinars in particular, have become the chosen channel of delivery for the new era of online training.
The use of webinars to deliver online seminars to the business community is changing the face of professional development for type practitioners. Now anyone, anywhere, has the ability to participate in these web-based training seminars at their convenience. Whether for professional development or just for personal interest, type practitioners who take the time to attend online seminars can get the latest information and training that is relevant to their field or practice. While location and cost were the primary determining factors in professional development activities for decades, the availability of new Internet-based courses are opening up opportunities for growth and development to professionals in practically every industry—especially for Type Practitioners—because webinars can bring the learning right to your desktop.
While most practitioners recognize the need to invest in professional development activities to increase their consulting offerings or get that tacit knowledge that can only be learned from experts, the cost can be a limiting factor. If you added up the costs of paying for an all day seminar or multi-day conference, transportation costs, and the loss of time on income producing activities it’s easy to understand why so many professionals and employers are hard-pressed to justify the funds for these activities. A six-hundred dollar conference may end up costing two-thousand dollars. Since online seminars can be taken from any location with a computer and Internet access, the transportation and lodging costs are eliminated. Whether you’re at a local Barnes & Noble or at home in your pajamas you can attend virtually anywhere.
Specific issues will need to be addressed, like offering attendees a private environment to communicate with other attendees, ask questions, and get help when necessary. It will also be critical for these online seminars to be recorded and stored in a private location so attendees can listen to each one at their own convenience. This means complex material like understanding psychological type concepts or application material like leadership or culture can be easily reviewed or a missed session easily revisited. Then no matter what the schedule looks like, even if spread over a two-month period, the online seminars can meet the needs of the type practitioner. With almost all of the benefits of a conference, workshop or a class, if delivered properly online seminars offer an ideal venue for type practitioners to learn from industry experts, gain untapped tactic knowledge from experienced leaders in their field, or learn new skills. With the correct support and set-up, it would simple for type practitioners to attend a twelve-hour program without giving up any billable time or workdays.
So, the next time you consider attending a three- or four-day course, ask yourself what other opportunities are available that eliminate travel costs, provide support to learn from industry experts and an environment to connect with your peers.
Cheers to your success.
