Have you ever felt buyer’s remorse as a learning and development professional?
It’s unlike any other kind of buyer’s remorse I’ve encountered. It is painful, prolonged and endures over a long period of time. Most other types of buyer’s remorse are similar to the ‘morning after’ hangover – pretty instant and horrible but short-lived.
Conversely, it’s likely that for Learning & Development professionals the purchase gives an instant high – the program has run and everyone loved it. Or the eLearning module has launched and there’s a high level of engagement – people are commenting about it and giving great feedback.
It’s not until the weeks or months following that you are still getting managers from that department knocking on the door of HR unable to have fierce conversations with their staff. You overhear a conversation (that you wish you hadn’t) with a manager taking inappropriately to a colleague or team member.
Did they not learn anything on that program they attended?
They did learn it. They just weren’t supported to apply it.
Your buyer’s remorse hits in – with another initiative that hasn’t created the desired change. Only then it’s so far from the kick off that it’s all too easy to hide. Or perhaps the key stakeholder has already moved on.
And yet, in a years time you’ll again be producing a similar program, that you will re-run with similar outcomes. It’s time to break the cycle.
