What is Microtraining?

Microtraining can be done by any one! The Microtrainer can be any person in an organization who feels the need to share knowledge, improve communication and learn from his or her employees or colleagues. The Microtrainer is not necessarily a professional trainer. Every non-professional trainer will be able to be an effective Microtrainer. The Microtrainer develops company-specific content for the Microtraining session and applies it to small groups.

• The environmental manager has to implement a pile of new regulation of the separation waste. Everyone in the company has to deal with these regulation. How will you make sure that they understand what the laws are about and are motivated to apply them?
• Although your colleagues are familiar with the new environmental guidelines, they are unhappy when it comes to applying them. They have ideas on how to improve things. You lack the time for proper knowledge transfer. How will you make sure everyone understand what needs to be done and feels rewarded for their ideas?

People learn from each other by being part of a group. Make sure that people with different knowledge and insights are present in the group. Knowledge that is lacking can be gathered during or in between the sessions and mistakes can be dealt with through the heterogeneity of the group. The group has to be large enough to create a good discussion, but should not be more than five to seven people to avoid passiveness.

Microtraining sessions can take place at the time of need, due to the limited time for preparation and execution. It is best to choose a time that fits the working schedule of your organization (for example in the morning, when people are still fit fresh). You can organize a Microtraining session:

• during the first 15 minutes of work
• just after the coffee break
• in a work meeting
• in a workshop
• etc.