Train to Ingrain

Create permanent changes in
leader behavior

What we're about to tell you is somewhat of a secret, either because most managers don’t understand the problem or because they don’t like talking about it. And when we tell you what it is, you’ll see that it is shocking, so let's begin by telling you what this “secret” is, which is that most leader and team development programs don’t produce significant changes in behavior.

If you’re a leader or an HR professional, then you know this statement means that an amazing amount of money, time, and other resources are being wasted every year. But there’s also some good news, some really good news. Once you understand why this problem exists, you’ll see that there’s something straightforward and practical you can do about it. And that’s what this 5-part audio series is about.

Again: most leader and team development programs don’t produce significant changes in behavior. The evidence of this fact has been in front of us for many, many years. Talented trainers present excellent programs, participants usually enjoy the programs, and many of them come away enlightened and motivated. But in most cases, months later, there are few if any noticeable changes in behavior to justify all the expense and effort.

If you’ve ever participated in one of these programs, you know this is true. And the executives who hire the trainers, even the trainers themselves, in their heart of hearts, know this is true. These people truly want the programs to make a difference, but in reality not much changes. Leadership and teams are important, so these programs seems like the right thing to do, and the hope is that somehow the participants are getting some good out of it.

But understanding why most of these programs fail is the first step to discovering the solution, and to understand why, you have to grasp three realities:

1. Learning is physical

2. It takes lots of repetition to ingrain behavior

3. To ingrain a people skill you have to work against lifelong habits