If you want to hear people groan when a day of training is ending, say “Here’s your homework for tomorrow.”

Maybe that’s because the word “homework” brings back so many unpleasant memories from school. Yet the right kind of homework can be motivating, not discouraging.

A Motivational Way to Use Homework in Training

“The Kind of Homework that Helps Coaching Stick,” an article that Prof. Monique Valcour wrote for the March 3, 2015 Harvard Business Review, offers some advice that we like about the role that homework can play in coaching professionals to learn, improve and find a path to advancement in your organization. Prof. Valcour is professor of management at EDHEC in France, one of Europe’s top business schools.

“In order to give your employees meaningful homework,” Prof. Valcour writes, “lay the groundwork by stepping out of the directing role and into a listening and learning role. By asking open-ended questions, listening actively, and engaging respectfully with your employees, you build the trust and rapport that is the lifeblood of effective coaching. As you gain greater insight into your employee’s thinking, motivations and interests, you’ll be better able to challenge and support him or her with homework that stimulates learning and development.”

Encourage Trainees to Think about Advancement

Prof. Valcour believes that the right kind of homework motivates employees to further their career development. She suggests having trainees consider questions like these and bring their answers back to their coaches:

• “How do you think you can add greater value to our organization?”
• “Are there specific roles in the company that you would like to know more about?”
• “Are there specific projects here that you would like to work on – and how would they help you reach your career goals?”

So, Is Homework Taboo?

Used in the right way, it can enhance your training programs. We like Prof. Valcour’s value-adding strategy of encouraging trainees to think about career development during training. Please take a moment to let us know your thoughts too.