Effective development programmes are essential for your people and your organisation to grow and achieve success. Conducting a thorough Training Needs Analysis is just the beginning. At Willow & Puddifoot, we have designed a robust process called GUIDE to ensure that every step of our training and development is tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Whether you partner with us or use this process independently, the GUIDE framework can significantly enhance your organisational development efforts, providing a clear path to improved performance and growth.
What is the GUIDE Process?
The GUIDE process is a structured methodology that Willow & Puddifoot uses to deliver customised training and development solutions. It stands for:
- Gather Insights
- Uncover Needs
- Identify Objectives
- Deploy Solutions
- Evaluate Impact
Each phase of the GUIDE process is designed to ensure that our programmes are aligned with your strategic goals and tailored to address your specific challenges.
G: Gather Insights
Purpose: The initial phase involves a comprehensive assessment of your current organisational dynamics and challenges. We delve deep into understanding the intricacies of your business environment, culture, and operations.
Benefits:
- Detailed Understanding: By gathering insights, we gain a thorough understanding of your organisational context, which allows us to develop relevant and effective training programmes.
- Customisation: This phase ensures that the solutions we design are tailored to your unique needs, rather than adopting a generic approach.
U: Uncover Needs
Purpose: In this phase, we conduct a detailed needs assessment to identify specific development areas. This involves pinpointing the skills and competencies that need enhancement to drive your organisation forward.
Benefits:
- Targeted Development: By uncovering precise needs, we ensure that the training addresses critical gaps and opportunities, leading to more effective outcomes.
- Focused Investment: This helps in allocating resources efficiently, ensuring that the development efforts are focused where they are needed most.
I: Identify Objectives
Purpose: We work closely with your team to establish clear, measurable objectives for the training programmes. This phase includes completing a Training Success Charter with client stakeholders, defining and agreeing on key aspects such as the purpose, objectives, factors impacting success, risks, and how to evaluate impact.
Benefits:
- Clarity and Focus: Clear objectives provide a focused direction for the training, ensuring that all efforts are aligned with the desired outcomes.
- Collaborative Agreement: The Training Success Charter ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page regarding the purpose, objectives, success factors, and evaluation criteria.
- Risk Management: By identifying potential risks upfront, we can develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring smoother implementation.
- Measurable Outcomes: By setting measurable goals and agreeing on evaluation methods, we can track progress and demonstrate the training’s impact.
D: Deploy Solutions
Purpose: This phase involves implementing the tailored training programmes using brain-friendly, evidence-based, and culturally relevant designs to ensure engaging, effective, and inclusive learning. We integrate these solutions seamlessly into your organisational processes.
Benefits:
- Effective Implementation: Systematic delivery ensures better adoption and integration.
- Practical Relevance: The solutions are designed to be applicable in real-world scenarios, enhancing their relevance and impact.
- Engaging Techniques: We use evidence-based methods for deep understanding and retention.
- Real-World Application: Practical application exercises are incorporated to facilitate real-world behaviour transfer.
- Inclusive Environment: Encourages active participation and ensures that all participants feel valued and engaged.
- Continuous Development: Structured progression is provided for continuous development, ensuring that learning is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.
- Ongoing Support: We offer follow-up sessions, resources, and coaching for consistent application.
E: Evaluate Impact
Purpose: The final phase involves partnering with you to gather relevant metrics and conduct a comprehensive review of the programme’s effectiveness. This helps in assessing the impact and identifying areas for continuous improvement.
Benefits:
- Continuous Improvement: Ongoing evaluation allows for adjustments and enhancements, ensuring that the training remains effective and relevant.
- Demonstrable ROI: By measuring the impact, we can show the return on investment, providing tangible proof of the training’s value.
Conclusion
The GUIDE process at Willow & Puddifoot is a comprehensive approach to organisational development that ensures every step of the training is tailored, focused, and impactful. By gathering insights, uncovering needs, identifying objectives, deploying solutions, and evaluating impact, we provide a structured roadmap that drives significant improvements in performance and growth.
For our clients, this means customised solutions that address their unique challenges, leading to enhanced organisational performance, increased employee engagement, and sustainable growth.
By leveraging the GUIDE process, Willow & Puddifoot ensures that your organisation is equipped with the skills and strategies needed to thrive in a competitive business environment.
For more information on how the GUIDE process can benefit your organisation, visit our website or contact us directly.
About the author
Louise Puddifoot is the founder of Willow & Puddifoot, a training provider for those seeking transformative learning and development experiences. With a vibrant learning and development career spanning over two decades, Louise’s expertise lies in leadership and management development. She is passionate about enabling potential and catalysing growth in individuals and businesses alike.