Behavior-Based Training: Unlocking the Power of Behavioral Change for Effective Talent Development

"Impact comes from multiple inputs and behaviors. So when we're looking at the big picture, it's important to start with overall impacts and then work down to behaviors that support those impacts." 

Traditional training methods often fall short in driving significant change and impact, leading to wasted time and resources. However, a more focused and targeted approach called behavior-based training offers a promising solution. In this blog post, we delve into the key insights shared in the Talent Development Think Tank podcast episode featuring Matt Gjersten, where he discusses the power of behavior-based training and how it can revolutionize talent development strategies.

1. Shifting the Focus to Behavior Change:

Behavior-based training focuses on specific behavioral change rather than the overall impact alone. By drilling down to specific actions and behaviors, organizations can more effectively quantify, measure, and facilitate real change in their talent development initiatives. This approach allows for a clear path towards desired results and facilitates better alignment with business goals.

2. Tangible and Measurable Outcomes:

The measurement of success is a crucial aspect of any talent development program. Behavior-based training provides a tangible framework to track progress and measure the effectiveness of training initiatives. Shifting the focus from outcomes to behaviors ensures a granular understanding of how particular actions drive impact. This approach empowers stakeholders to make data-driven decisions and effectively address gaps in training and development.

3. Tailoring Training Programs:

Every organization has unique needs and challenges when it comes to talent development. By adopting a behavior-based training approach, organizations can customize their programs to address specific behaviors that align with their business priorities and strategies. This tailored approach allows for a more efficient use of resources and ensures that training efforts directly contribute to desired outcomes.

4. Building Strong Managerial Skills:

One critical aspect of talent development is effective management. Often, companies promote high-performing individuals into management roles without providing adequate training. This results in ineffective managers with a limited ability to inspire and lead their teams. Behavior-based training provides a structured approach to develop essential managerial skills such as goal-setting, feedback, and employee development. By focusing on actionable behaviors, organizations can cultivate a strong cadre of effective managers who can drive sustainable growth.

 

Behavior-based training holds tremendous potential for transforming talent development practices and driving organizational success. By shifting the focus from vague outcomes to specific behaviors, organizations can create targeted training programs that align with their strategic objectives. As business environments continue to evolve, behavior-based training offers a path to unlock the power of behavioral change and drive effective talent development in a complex world.

Matt Gjertsen is the founder and Chief Learning Officer of Better Every Day Studios, a full service instructional design team that helps aerospace and defense companies with everything from training needs analysis to learning content creation and delivery.

He began his career in the United States Air Force as an Instructor Pilot in the T-1 and KC-10 aircraft. When not in the air, Matt spent his time racing triathlons, completing Ironman Lake Tahoe in 2013.

After 9 years of service, Matt left active duty to become the Manager of Training and Development for SpaceX. His team was responsible for new hire orientation, employee and leader development, as well as various aspects of technical training from Environmental Health and Safety compliance to production and engineering skills. After four and a half years at SpaceX, Matt moved on to join a technology start-up where he built a global operations onboarding program, sales training and various leader development programs.

Today, while focusing on defense & aerospace, Matt works with businesses of all sizes to create custom learning content and facilitate impactful employee training designed to change behavior, improve performance and help leaders build organizations people love to be part of.

Matt is also continuing his military service as a Reserve Officer supporting the U.S. Space Force while he lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, CA.

Matt Gjersten
Matt Gjersten

Listen to the podcast episode here:

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About Andy Storch

Andy Storch is an author, consultant, coach, speaker and facilitator on a mission to get the most out of life and inspire others to do the same. He is the author of the book, Own Your Career Own Your Life, which is designed to help professionals stop drifting and take control of their futures. Andy is also the host of three podcasts, including The Talent Development Hot Seat; Own Your Career; and My NFT Journey. He is the co-founder and host of The Talent Development Think Tank Conference and Community as well as the host of the Talent Development Virtual Summit. Andy has consulted and taught strategy, sales, leadership, finance, and innovation to business leaders all over the world including companies like Salesforce.com, Oracle, Google, Toyota, State Farm, Red Bull, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, HP, Sony, Cisco, Tiffany & Co and others. Andy holds an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business where he served as President of the MBA program and a BS from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) His purpose is to love and support his family and to impact the world by inspiring people to stop drifting, take control and live life with Intention. He is a husband and father of two kids and lives in Orlando, Florida, USA.