How to get the most from your CRM Training

That is a quote from Queen Elizabeth II, and probably most people would agree with the sentiment of the statement. Firstly, what is "training" - one definition from Wikipedia says "Training is the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relates to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity and performance." Taking all that into account, how can you ensure that you get the most from your investment in CRM Training?

Here are our 5 top tips which can be applied to any training you are considering. Use them to ensure you and your staff get the most out of the investment in time and money when planning any training sessions:

Training doesn't just happen by magic - it needs planning. What is needed, why, who for, how is it going to be delivered and by whom? All of these need to be considered. There may be a training plan as a natural part of an employee development programme or as a result of their appraisal. You may be implementing new software such as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Whatever the reason, planning encourages you to bring together all the components and issues (budget, time scales, resourcing) to ensure that you are fully aware of all the time and financial needs before making a commitment.

Sounds simple doesn't it? Well it should be. If you don't understand the objectives how can the person attending the training know what they should get out of it and how can the person/company delivering the training be sure they are providing what is needed? Be as specific as possible. Saying someone "needs to learn the CRM system" is no good. Why do they need to learn it? Maybe saying something like "the sales team need to know how to create opportunities, as all future company reporting will be based on this" is a better idea or "all staff need to know how to enter correct data for marketing purposes"? Define your precise needs. Your training provider should be able to give you some course outlines as a starting point and offer you further advice if necessary. Are they able/willing to customise courses to meet specific needs?

Think about their own starting point - would some staff benefit from a short introduction or refresher session before attending the main training? Not everyone learns in the same way. Can you provide a mix of training which includes classroom, mentoring or e-learning if necessary? Consider your staff and any physical or mental issues that may impact their learning. Here at CRM Dynamics Ltd we have done a lot of work with disability charities in the past and have adapted training to take account of those with learning difficulties, physical issues that make typing more difficult as well as those requiring wheelchair access. Make sure that the location for the training can cater for this if necessary.

In the same ways as not everyone learns in the same way, not everyone trains in the same way. Regardless of whether you are using internal staff to provide the training, bringing someone in or sending staff on external courses you should review the presentation style and ensure it fits with your needs. Does the course include hands on practice of the software - and how much? How experienced is the trainer, and how much do they understand your organisation and needs? This is one of the key benefits of working with a partner company such as CRM Dynamics Ltd when implementing a CRM solution.