Every day is a perfect day to train, right? After 30 years as a professional trainer, my answer is a resounding yes! However, some days are more optimal than others. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each day as well as some helpful tips so you can maximize your time, efforts and returns.
Monday
Some employees arrive at work ready to go, but most drag themselves in, either tired from an active weekend or sluggish from relaxing. Once they get settled in, they are working to catch up on carryovers and voicemails while handling the morning rush. This makes Mondays the least effective day to train but the most important for morning huddles to get your team fired up and ready to hit their goals.
Tip: If Monday is your only day to train, try holding your sessions mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Consider getting your team started right with a light breakfast. Bagels are usually a hit without risking a sugar crash.
Friday
It’s time for the weekend, and your advisors are focused on updating their clients while pushing to get vehicles delivered. This is when they get the most pressure from clients who want their cars back. Unfortunately, it is often the day that technicians start to wind down. This combination can cause a lot of chaos, and you won’t get the attention or retention you hope for.
If this does not describe a Friday in your dealership then everyone may be relaxed and ready to listen. However, we have found that very little training content is retained by Monday morning because they didn’t have time to study, role-play or practice the techniques presented.
Tip: When training on Friday, use handouts and require class participation. Each advisor should write down what they learned and how they will implement it the following week. Do a quick recap to refocus everyone during your Monday morning huddle.
Thursday
The fourth day of the week is better than Monday and Friday but still not optimal. Mentally, everyone is past Hump Day and starting to focus on completing tasks before the weekend. Many times, when I ask an advisor how they are on Thursday the answer will be, “Great! It’s almost Friday.”
Tip: For effective Thursday sessions, set a challenge or hold a fun competition on Friday that is based on the material presented. This will motivate everyone to study and practice so they can win the challenge. Fun prizes help. Get creative, it doesn’t always have to be money.
Tuesday and Wednesday
Mid-week wins the prize! Employees have settled into their rhythm for the week and are more receptive and attentive. They are typically more available to attend training sessions without the looming pressure of weekend tasks or the distractions of starting a new week.
Often, they appreciate a mid-week break from their routine and you still have a few days to run a contest, review notes and monitor progress. This will add to the enthusiasm of participating and retention.
Now that we know the best days and times, let’s review a few tips for impactful training.
Avoid peak workload periods – This includes when you have a full schedule, are closing the month or are short-staffed.
Schedule training – If you need to block an hour to get 100% participation or schedule an evening dinner meeting, do it. This will pay off in the long run.
Try to train in the morning – When we are rested, our mind is much more open and able to retain information. In some stores, the first customers don’t arrive until 8 or 9. Others have a line at 7 a.m. Take advantage of your traffic flow to make your morning training successful.
Consider employees’ preferences – Some companies survey employees to find the most convenient times. Employee feedback can be helpful in identifying when the majority can attend without significant disruptions. Plus, if it is their preference they will be more willing to participate.
Offer virtual training for flexibility – Requiring a short weekly session will ensure that new processes and techniques are communicated regularly, and everyone continues to learn and improve.
Make the time count – Start and finish on time with relevant material. Everyone should leave with key takeaways and a plan to improve. Training your team is an important responsibility. Let’s equip all our trainees to step out of their comfort zones and reach new levels of success. Success doesn’t come from doing things the same. What will you do differently in the New Year?