Time Training

Just In Time Training: Quick Skills That Actually Work

What really happens when you need to train someone NOW?

l mean, not next week when the schedule opens up, not when the trainer flies in from Melbourne, but right this minute when your new person is standing there waiting to start.

That is where just in time training comes in. And honestly? lt works better than those massive week long programs that cost a fortune and put people to sleep.

Think about it : your phone buzzes with an urgent email. You need someone trained on the new system TODAY. Traditional training says book a room, print handouts, schedule a full day session. Just in time training says grab five minutes and show them exactly what they need to know right now. Done. They are working.

The whole concept makes sense when you stop and think about learning patterns. People retain information better when they need it immediately, when there is real pressure to absorb it and use it straight away. lts like cramming for an exam, except you actually remember the stuff because you are using it straight after.

Short bursts work

Your brain processes information differently when it knows this knowledge gets put to work immediately. No time for the information to get fuzzy or mixed up with other random facts. You learn it, you do it, it sticks.

Most traditional training programs drag on for hours and cover everything under the sun. Half of it you will never use, the other half you forget by lunch. Just in time training gives you bite sized chunks exactly when you need them. Nothing more, nothing less.

l remember working with this company where they spent thousands on a three day customer service workshop. Fancy facilitator, printed workbooks, catered lunches. People came back to their desks and went straight back to handling calls the same way they always had. Waste of time and money.

Same company tried just in time training six months later. Five minute sessions right before difficult calls, quick tips shared during team huddles, instant feedback after tricky customer interactions. Guess what worked better? The short, targeted approach won hands down.

Quick knowledge sharing

When you need to spread new information across your team, traditional methods mean booking meeting rooms, scheduling around everyone is calendars, waiting weeks for the next available training slot. Time management training becomes critical when you are trying to coordinate all these moving parts.

Just in time training skips all that drama. Team meeting runs five minutes longer to cover the new procedure. Quick email with the key points everyone needs to know. Problem solved, everyone informed, no scheduling nightmares.

This approach works especially well for technical updates or policy changes. Instead of creating formal training sessions that interrupt workflow, you integrate learning into the actual work. People appreciate not having their schedules turned upside down for training that could have been an email.

The reality check

Not everything works as just in time training. Complex skills need proper instruction and practice time. Safety procedures require thorough understanding, not quick explanations. Leadership development takes months, not minutes.

But for operational updates, system changes, new procedures, customer service tips, basic troubleshooting : just in time training beats traditional methods every time. Faster, cheaper, more effective.

Companies often resist this approach because it feels informal, like you are not taking training seriously enough. That is backwards thinking. You are taking it more seriously by making it relevant and immediate. People learn better when they can see the direct connection between the training and their actual work.

Making it stick

The trick with just in time training is following up. Quick training session means quick check ins. Did the new procedure work? Any questions? What needs clarifying?

Traditional training programs often end with a certificate and a pat on the back. Just in time training builds in continuous support because you know people will hit roadblocks as they apply what they just learned.

Employee onboarding benefits hugely from this approach. Instead of overwhelming new starters with everything they might need to know someday, you give them exactly what they need for their first task, then their second, then their third. They build confidence as they go instead of feeling buried under information.

Real world application

Most successful just in time training happens informally. Colleague shows you a shortcut. Manager explains a new process during a regular meeting. Team leader demonstrates a better way to handle a common problem.

The formal version involves creating quick reference guides, short video explanations, step by step procedures that people can access exactly when they need them. No scheduling required, no time away from actual work.

This approach demands different thinking about training design. Instead of comprehensive courses covering everything, you create modular pieces that address specific needs. Think Wikipedia entries, not university textbooks.

Modern workplaces change too fast for traditional training methods. By the time you organise a formal training program, the procedures have already changed twice. Just in time training adapts to the pace of actual business.

Your team learns what they need, when they need it, without disrupting productivity or burning through training budgets. Sometimes the simplest approach really is the best one.