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Training and Development

Training and development is a key activity in most organizations, the goal of which is to enhance individual performance and effectiveness in the workplace. Training and development research focuses on investigating the various methods employed by trainers, analyzing the success and usefulness of different training programs and approaches. Communication training and development is a specific form of training geared toward improving communication skills and abilities in the workplace to improve worker productivity, job efficiency, and overall ability to communicate with fellow employees. Communication training and development research, therefore, studies choices made by communication professionals during the course of training activities, evaluates the effectiveness of selected approaches, and provides suggestions for improved training activities.

This entry focuses on several areas important to communication training and development research. First, it is important to differentiate between general education relevant to a particular communication concept and training for the purposes of teaching or improving skill level related to a particular workplace task. Second, while theory is rarely taught to employees who are engaging in communication training and development, theory should inform the choices made by trainers and session facilitators during training sessions. As such, several important communication training and development theories are discussed. Third, much research devoted to training and development draws attention to the entire training process, which includes a needs assessment prior to session development, the creation of the training session, and post session evaluation of training effectiveness. This process will also be explored. Finally, the value of communication training and development research for the continuity and persistent improvement of the field is discussed, turning particular focus toward the need for new and innovative choices as new technologies consistently emerge, changing the landscape of how communication training is created and delivered.

General Communication Education Versus Communication Skills Training

Both general communication education and communication skills training emphasize the importance of improved communication in society. In a world where it is possible to observe daily misunderstandings and conflicts between individuals, between organizations, and between countries, the need for effective communication is clearly evident. However, general communication education and communication skills training each focus on different elements with respect to communication knowledge. Five key differences between communication education and communication skills training are discussed.

To begin, general communication education concentrates on increased overall understanding of a particular communication concept whereas communication training is concerned with an individual’s ability to perform a certain task. A successful outcome for communication education is increased cognition relative to a particular topic. A successful outcome for communication training is an improved capability to complete a job-related responsibility. Essentially, communication education emphasizes cerebral change while communication training stresses behavioral change. Both require cognitive comprehension, but training additionally requires immediate application of learned skills.

Second, communication training focuses on the correct learning and appropriate application of a particular skill while communication education allows different means for arriving at the same end—comprehension of a specific concept. Most organizations seek out communication training in order to teach workers the most effective and appropriate way of completing a task. Typically, there is a right and wrong way of doing things. In communication education, the main purpose is to facilitate learning and understanding, and there may be a variety of creative ways to achieve this. Communication training is much more prescriptive; communication education tends to be more descriptive.

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