Consider the last course or class you sat in on, was it "company-sponsored" or did you take a weekend day or weekday evening to go and learn about something new to you?
Taking time to get better - such as: going to a course, reading a book or completing an on-line class - is just the initial part of the investment. After that, there is the requirement to re-engage over the next few days and weeks.
Our recommendation: Make it ok to see "just a little" improvement over time. Our flagship seminar is called "Mastering Workplace Performance." During that 7-hour course, we address 4 areas of performance in the workplace:
Psychology: How do you "think" about how you think about work?
Technology: How can the gear, tools and systems help you work more efficiently?
Sociology: How can we work most effectively with our boss, colleagues and direct reports?
Physiology: How can we continue working at the pace we're working at?
If you've attended one of our courses (or any course, of course...) consider seeing little improvements over the next week or so. How do you do it? Here are some things we'd recommend...
1. Start the day right. Write down, on a sticky note or a 3X5 note card, your "most important thing" for the day. Put that note where you can see it at the END of the day - on the bathroom mirror at home, by your car keys, clipped to your briefcase or purse - and LOOK AT IT at the end of the day. Rate yourself, 0-5: How did you do?
2. Find a buddy. During the course, you probably met or talked to at least one other person. Once a week, for the next month or so, meet up for coffee or lunch. When you get together, do so and spend 30 minutes or so on this prompt: "What are you doing differently as a result of attending that workshop?"
3. Call the presenter (no, really, I mean it!). After a few days "back at the desk," we presenters KNOW that people leave our workshops, go back to their office space, and "hope" they have time to implement. I know, from personal experience, that when someone calls with a question, there is usually something I can do in 5-10 minutes to give them some information AND inspiration to get them going. Give it a try!