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You know that great feeling when a training session really clicks? The group is engaged, the discussions are lively, and you can almost see the lightbulbs going off. But the real test comes later—when learners are back on the job. Do the new skills show up in their work?
That’s where the transfer of learning comes in. The good news? You can design your sessions so learners understand the new skills and use them. Here’s how:
Make It Personal Right Away
After each exercise, give learners a few quiet minutes to think about one question: “How does this apply to my job?” This quick reflection helps connect the dots between the classroom and the real world.
Turn Ideas Into Action
Have participants write action plans outlining how they’ll use their new skills. Writing it down makes it real and gives them something to look back on once they’re back on the job.
Bring the Real World Into the Room
If possible, ask learners to bring samples of their work. Give them time to assess their quality considering the new skills being learned. It’s a powerful way to see progress in action.
Talk About the Tough Stuff
Before the session wraps up, have a conversation about what might get in the way of applying these new skills. Then, brainstorm ways to overcome those roadblocks together. Sometimes the best ideas come from peers who face the same challenges.
Keep the Momentum Going
A few weeks after the course, reach out by phone or email to ask what actions have been taken. Summarize their responses in a short report and share it with the whole group. It’s a great way to inspire continued progress.
Training that transfers doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by design. When you help learners reflect, plan, and follow through, you turn a one-time learning event into lasting change. And that’s when the magic happens—when new skills don’t just stay in the classroom but show up where they matter most.
What else do you do to turn learning into action? How do you ensure learners use their new skills back on the job? Please share your ideas in the comments.
Additional Resource – From Learning to Action: 3 Practical Tips [Video]
In our New Trainer’s Survival Skills workshop, we focus on 14 proven methods to promote the transfer of new skills to the job. Yes, 14! You’ll also learn a step-by-step process for the analysis, design, development, delivery, and evaluation of any training program.