Thread: How Do You Train

When you are planning training agendas, do you consider the differences of learning styles...? I've been in training groups were we would listen to the trainer talk on and on for about 2 weeks... only to learn very little of what is necessary until the training becomes more tactile. In some cases it could be a waste of training resources, and it could also deter qualified candidates. How do you train?

It’s been proven over and over; people learn more by doing than by just hearing someone lecture. Also the more of the senses that are utilized in the learning process the more effective the learning experience will be. By doing we can see, identify and evaluate our flaws then take necessary step to make it better.
Just think, if you were sewing on a button and you pricked your finger, what would you remember about the incident? A very simple example: You used sight, doing/action, feel and probably experience pain. I guarantee you will remember the pain.

Funny you should discuss this, am currently training my new part-timer. I actually started last week. I was thinking it was a bad week to start because it's our busiest time with local university students renting from us like crazy! Had 53 rentals last week and my newbie rose to the occasion by taking the map and the golf cart & took new tenants down to their units in the golf cart & showed them proper use of gate codes to enter and exit & also showed them how to secure their units!! She jumped right in there and seems to be learning fast...next week when it slows down, we'll work on the computer end of things..so far she's entered check payments that came in the mail, and answered the phone some...not my usual training methods but sometimes the day dictates itself!!

Pat- I am also training a new assistant. Started last week. I scheduled it that way because I knew it would be a busy time. She also has jumped right in and has been a joy to work with. She retired about a year ago and cleaned out all the closets, organized the drawers, planted flowers, took up crafts! She was ready for a new challenge! She is even taking home printouts, articles, manuals and maps to read and study! I am thrilled!

I thought the SL training videos would be good. But haven't found them to be the training resource needed.

We use the WinSen products and have the backup copy on a laptop. By copying the database onto the laptop I can let the trainee learn by doing while they watch and listen. They can hack away and then we just reload a good copy of the database.

Originally Posted by JulieA

I thought the SL training videos would be good. But haven't found them to be the training resource needed.

Agree on this. They used to just have a list of tasks, from basic to advanced, and each one had a video. Now you logon to demo mode and it looks just like the SL interface, but each time you click on something, there's a series of videos. I haven't found it useful when training new managers. Now I just sit down with them and we go over each function.

Originally Posted by JamestownStorage#8

Funny you should discuss this, am currently training my new part-timer. I actually started last week. I was thinking it was a bad week to start because it's our busiest time with local university students renting from us like crazy! Had 53 rentals last week and my newbie rose to the occasion by taking the map and the golf cart & took new tenants down to their units in the golf cart & showed them proper use of gate codes to enter and exit & also showed them how to secure their units!! She jumped right in there and seems to be learning fast...next week when it slows down, we'll work on the computer end of things..so far she's entered check payments that came in the mail, and answered the phone some...not my usual training methods but sometimes the day dictates itself!!

I think it's cool how you basically stumbled upon this method of training. I personally like the hands on training method, but do you think this is a method that you'll stick to...?

Originally Posted by Satyra From PhoneSmart

I think it's cool how you basically stumbled upon this method of training. I personally like the hands on training method, but do you think this is a method that you'll stick to...?

I just wrote an Article for Inside Self Storage and hopefully all the storage managers and assistant managers will have an opportunity to read. To give you a preview, it attempts to outline just how many tasks/functions/responsibilities, etc a typical self storage manager has. I know I did not cover them all but I hope you all enjoy it. Not sure what issue but keep looking in the next couple of months.

It would be impossible for ANYONE to train on all these areas unless they have been there, done that.

My opinion only of course.

When our company hires a new manager, they usually send that person here for a week for training......I find it works MUCH better if they come the first week of the month because there is so much more opportunity for "practice" that week. I always sit the person down in front of the main computer and let them do most of the Sitelink stuff that week, and the trainee accompanies me to show storage units, and by the end of the week, I accompany them.

Most people learn better by doing then by watching.