Training vs. development
Description
People like to use “training” and “development” interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Training is about learning how to do something like how to operate a system, follow a process, or master a specific skill. Development, on the other hand, is about long-term growth. It builds adaptability, problem-solving and leadership - the qualities that turn skilled workers into valuable assets for your business.
We mostly focus on training our people: teaching them how to sell, how to follow procedures, how to execute tasks efficiently. But development is what transforms a good team into a great one. Employees who are developed and not just trained, think critically, they take initiative and they grow with the business instead of just working in it.
If training gives your team the tools, development teaches them how to build something meaningful with those tools. So are you just teaching your employees what to do, or are you helping them become the kind of professionals who can take your business further?
We mostly focus on training our people: teaching them how to sell, how to follow procedures, how to execute tasks efficiently. But development is what transforms a good team into a great one. Employees who are developed and not just trained, think critically, they take initiative and they grow with the business instead of just working in it.
If training gives your team the tools, development teaches them how to build something meaningful with those tools. So are you just teaching your employees what to do, or are you helping them become the kind of professionals who can take your business further?
Summary
Training teaches skills, but development builds capability. We need to invest in both - for ourselves and for our teams. A well-trained team can follow instructions, but a well-developed team can think, adapt and grow beyond what they were trained to do. Long-term success isn’t just about what your employees know but about who they become.
