Training - Recommend Solutions

Once you've spent time with the client assessing their needs, it's time to make recommendations for solutions to address the discovered needs.

Priscilla R. Lish Consulting Services ©2015

In my experience it is best to offer two solutions but you should have a third option - just in case. It's a good idea to look at a variety of solutions including off-the-shelf, in-house, online or a customized training solution using a combination of these as viable options.

In my experience most clients will opt for an in-classroom training solution. They feel comfortable with this option because it's what they know best. Your job however is to recommend the best solution, not what the client feels most comfortable with.

Be prepared to explain the benefits of the solutions you recommend and state them in a way that make sense to your client.  For example, in a call-center scenario an automated solution delivered to the participant's desktop that takes into account the center's call volume and peak performance times will meet the needs of the client while minimizing impact to the business.  You should also explain the offsetting drawbacks, if any, to your proposed solution.  In this case, the drawback is that training delivery will take longer and this option can be costly.

Here's a template for serving up your recommendations to your client:

Priscilla R. Lish Consulting Services ©2015

The comments section can be used to provide details relevant to making the best decision. In this example the costs associated with the solution and estimated completion time for the training cycle.

In the end, your job is to make recommendations by presenting the good, the bad, and the ugly of each potential solution. The final decision rests solely on the business owner.