Ten best practices for a successful RIM training program – Part one
As you begin new records and information management programs, you will inevitably encounter the challenge of how to train employees and enlist their cooperation.
In this two-part blog post, we share the ten best practices for a successful records and information management training program.
Obtain senior management endorsement
Your training program will have its best chance for success by incorporating endorsements from senior management. This can be done in multiple ways, including having a member of senior management attend the first day of training. If this is not possible, a message or video recording from senior management can be incorporated into training manuals and multimedia material to show their enthusiasm for the new training program.
Know where RIM lives
During busy times, it can be difficult to gain senior management endorsement and frontline interest in RIM initiatives. In light of this, it can be helpful to seize opportunities to incorporate your RIM project within a broader organizational initiative, such as an improved performance management framework, or a compliance initiative. Provided the RIM aspect is given the appropriate attention, this kind of integration can be a very effective RIM implementation strategy.
Engage training & development professionals
As a records management expert you should play an integral role in identifying and developing the necessary content for your RIM training program. However, when it comes to the actual training, an expert with specialized knowledge about training practices and procedures will help ensure success. Whether you tap into an internal resource or an outside partner, the support of experienced training professionals is important for the effective implementation of your training program.
Know your audience
A one-size-fits-all approach to training rarely works. In assessing your organization’s overall training needs, identify all distinct audiences and be sure to tailor the content and format to suit the needs of each group.
Identify individual training objectives up front
An effective training program is designed around clear training objectives. Training objectives should be written in clear, action-oriented language and focus on performance outcomes for individual participants. To give you an idea, here are few examples of real-world objective statements:
- “Identify paper and electronic documents which are subject to corporate-level records management controls.”
- “Bring records under control by applying the correct corporate records classification code.”
- “Perform secure, documented disposal of records in compliance with proper retention schedules”
- “Store, index and retrieve records via an electronic records management system.”
In next week’s blog post we will dive into more RIM training best practices, including delivery options and program customization.
