You are the HR manager who is in charge of training. How can you best utilize older employees when planning a training and development program?

However, more complex work involving reasoning and variable conditions, requires knowledge and understanding. For such work, “JDT" can be frustrating for everyone.

You are the HR manager who is in charge of training. How can you best utilize older employees when planning a training and development program?

Being Older is not the unique criteria. Not everyone is “cut out" to train/explain. Many may be able to DO the work/job, but are unable to effectively convey or explain effectively.

If you have the right, articulate, qualified, and experienced people, begin by selecting, developing, and training a Team of TRAINERS. (“Train the Trainers”)

IME, Three basic components of effective training:

  1. “This is WHAT we do.” (background)
  2. “This is WHY we do it.” (purpose)
  3. “This is HOW to do it correctly.” (methods and procedures)

To designate someone as a Trainer based on age or seniority often backfires.

Too many take the “shortcut” of relying only on the third component: “Just DTHIS!"

For monotonous, repetitive “rote" work, without variable conditions, “JDT" may be effective.

However, more complex work involving reasoning and variable conditions, requires knowledge and understanding. For such work“JDT" can be frustrating for everyone.