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Training Tip

Attitude, Aptitude and Ignorance

Before embarking on an elaborate training program, ask yourself the question, what is the cause for lack of performance? If you think you have an answer, how do you know? Is there evidence, or do you just have suspicions? You might need some support to determine whether you are facing an attitude, aptitude, or ignorance issue. The strategies for dealing with each are quite different.

There are three general causes for inadequate performance:

• Attitude problems
• Attitude problems
• Ignorance or lack of knowledge

The core question is, does this person need training, or some kind of counseling, or are they unsuited or unable to do the job? Some performance problems come from bad personal attitude. Bad attitudes are thought to be more common than they actually are. Studies show that 92% of performance problems come from either inadequate training or lack of ability such as strength, reach or intelligence (which cannot be overcome even with practice or training, unless you are willing and able to accommodate the job to the capabilities of the individual). To make the diagnosis decision more difficult, many people develop attitude problems as a defense mechanism against feelings of ignorance or incompetence.

Tip excerpted from Lean Maintenance by Joel Levitt (Industrial Press)

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