Planning re-entry

THE IMPOSSIBLE IS OFTEN THE UNTRIED

TRAINER’S NOTES

Topic: Planning re-entry

Time required: Approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours

This session is designed to help the participant make a more effective re-entry into his or her work setting after the course. How many times have you heard trainees say, “This course has been great but my boss needed to be here!”? This kind of remark, no doubt, expresses concern about going back into a “business-as-usual” situation and being thwarted in applying new concepts and ideas. Others may be too optimistic about their opportunities to change things when they return to the organization. This session should confront as many of these diverse perceptions as possible. The intent is to prepare the participant to be as effective as possible when they return to work.

TASKS:

1. Have the total group identify all of the issues they believe they will be confronted with when they return home from the course. It is important to encourage free expression and a diversity of concern during this session. Once the list is generated and displayed, go over the points one by one and encourage discussion of their consequences and how individuals might cope with them. This discussion is important in preparing participants for the next task.

2. Ask each participant to complete the Re-entry Planning questionnaire. When they have completed it, each individual should join 1 to 3 others to talk about their plans. Allow enough time for in-depth conversations.

3. Reconvene them briefly to solicit comments about the exercise and any lingering concerns they might have about the forthcoming re-entry.

EXERCISE

TOPIC: PLANNING RE-ENTRY

Your notes and recollections from the course discussions and exercises should be extensive. Now is the time to spend a few moments and reflect upon these from the perspective of going back into your work environment and making the most of this professional development experience.

What are the two or three things you can do to put your development to good use - for you personally (be selfish!)

Things I want to do for me personally are (be as specific as possible):

1. ______________________________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________________________
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3. ______________________________________________________________
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Now list those things you want to do when you return home to put this professional development experience to work for your work unit and the organization (again, be as specific as possible).

1. ______________________________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________________________
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3. ______________________________________________________________
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Given the skills you have gained in decision making, put together a strategy that will help you carry out these plans over the next 3 or 4 weeks and list the steps you need to take to carry out the strategy. Be as specific as possible, using the skills you learned in the problem solving exercises.

1. ______________________________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________________________
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3. ______________________________________________________________
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