As managers, many of us support team members as they participate in developmental efforts directed by someone other than us. For instance, a team member may attend a workshop, visit a customer, or participate in a conference. To support the team member in the learning process, consider the following actions, in advance of the learning event:

1. Meet with the team member to review the content of the learning activity.
2. Partner with the team member to identify the value of the learning activity – the value to the team member, to the team, to the organization and to the customer.
3. Ask the team member to identify three specific learning goals to be achieved during the learning activity, from learning a new skill for the XYZ project to making three new contacts in the industry, from learning a faster way to complete process ABC to watching how the customer uses your product.
4. Plan a time to meet after the learning activity to review the activity and progress on the learning goals.

These learning preparation steps also work well when you use them personally, that is, to prepare for your own learning activity.

Here’s to successful learning preparation!