Product Training for the Technical Expert

8Dethroning King Content: A Paradigm Shift

As an expert in your company’s solutions, one thing you are good at is providing content. You may believe in the importance of good adult education principles and effective delivery methods, but still feel that they are merely colorful additives to what really matters—the content. They are not. Yes, it is true that when any of those things is missing (including content), there is sure to be a void in the quality of your product solution training. And yes, it is also true that the easiest way to fill that void is with more of what you know best—content.

In most technical training courses I have taken, content is the undisputed king of training. I’m not sure if it was by a coup d’état or a democratic election, but somewhere in history content was promoted from the ranks of informant to that of supreme ruler. Its entourage of defenders and promoters are many, and your battle won’t be easy, but before you can move from a good training program to a great one, you must first dethrone King Content.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Content is still important. This isn’t some kind of French Revolution. I’m not calling for Content’s prompt execution. Content has done nothing wrong and still deserves a very prominent place in your training kingdom. In many monarchical countries, the king or queen is a figurehead that is less powerful than others in their government with lesser titles. Similarly, content becomes even more powerful when prioritized correctly. ...