When you develop and deliver training for a living, you get a lot of input on what is — or should be — considered a positive outcome… whether that’s meeting project and program objectives, confirming transfer of learning on-the-job, or even downstream gains in things like productivity and retention. These are mere examples.
As much as I understand and value those outcomes, when it comes down to it for me, the most important outcome of training is the what the learner gets out of it. Because like it or not, the fascinating, precious and often brilliant minds I get to connect with in my line of work can take whatever learning they gain, and bring it anywhere they want, applying it in any way they see fit… in their own lives.
So, when I get positive feedback from learners, it’s my signal that I’m doing something right.
