There is no denying continuous professional development plays a vital role in getting an organization ahead. However, decision-makers are typically very careful in assigning funds to finance business education, which additionally falls victim to budget cuts in a crisis situation first. This bashful attitude is a consequence of a few factors, including relatively high prices for top educators, difficulty in assessing the real impact of their efforts, and a dizzying choice of potential service providers.
Below are a few tips that can help make an informed decision at a time when diversity and innovation in this industry are endless, and the pressure to maximize the impact of educational initiatives on company results is on everybody’s mind.
1. A wide and selective network of educators is a must.
There is no way training can translate into results without making sure there is superb quality, intellectual and professional, to it. This brainpower potential can be built up only by relying on an elite section of top professors and practitioners. Coming from diverse backgrounds but united by a record of excellence in their specialist disciplines, they go a long way towards giving a guarantee of outstanding service. No business education tool, online or traditional, can do that without investing in quality relationships with the best experts.
2. A good service includes samples of past training.
Stringent vetting procedures for collaborators are central to establishing a selective network of available consultants, but they should not be enough for clients. They need open access to this knowledge in the form of professional publications by educators one can read online, videos of past training sessions that show speaking and communication skills in practice, or interviews on key topics specific trainers claim to be experts at. Publishing a sample of their expertise is to executive education what a free trial is to hundreds of other services or product offerings. No one is expected to buy a car without first having an opportunity to give it a test ride. No one should be expected to pay for consultants without first having an opportunity to learn more about them.
3. Direct access to information and people.
There is a wrong-headed perception of executive training as difficult to plan, organize and manage. Internet technology has made it easier to communicate, and the best online business education tools allow unmediated contact with potential trainers, breaking down the barrier of inaccessibility. Other key details, including the price, price notes, or preferred locations, should also be in full view.
4. Using technology to drive prices down.
One reason why the Internet has become such a central tool is its ability to keep costs in check everywhere, from shopping to logistics. Online business education services have to be able to achieve the same thing for executive training programs, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional ways of setting up educational initiatives. Reduced prices are possible because you are closer to the wanted expert than before, and there are fewer or no fees attached.