How to impart Training

HOW TO IMPART TRAINING 
Musings of a Veteran Trainer 
By
VIKRAM KARVE

Training Strategy is the sine qua non for the efficacy of a Training Programme.

In fact – Training Strategy is the basis for Training Design and Implementation. 

That is why – the first thing I used to do before designing a training programme – was to reflect, explore, consider, analyse and decide as to which Training Philosophy is relevant to the context in the particular Training Need and Environment. 

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
There are 3 basic Training Philosophies:

1.Confucian Training Philosophy

2. Zen Training Philosophy

3. On-the-job Training Philosophy

You must formulate your Training Strategy as per your Training Philosophy. 

Thus – Training Philosophy is the foundation – the core – of the “Art of Training”.

CONFUCIAN TRAINING PHILOSOPHY 

The Objective of Confucian Training Philosophy is:

The Aim of Training is to Qualify the Trainee for a more Important Job.

In other words – Training is inextricably linked with Career Advancement.

Most Military Training Courses are based on the Confucian Training Philosophy.

Since Confucian Type Training is primarily for promotion – if the training is not followed by promotion or career advancement quickly enough – non-realization of expectations may create frustration and resentment in the trainee. 

ZEN TRAINING PHILOSOPHY 

The Objective of Zen Training Philosophy is:

The purpose of training is continuous improvement in performance.

The emphasis here is on “continuous improvement”.


The Aim of Training is to improve the Present Performance of the Trainee – by focusing on excellence in work and self-development. 

Zen Type training aims at strengthening the inner urge and enhancing requisite skills for work-excellence and job-satisfaction – without the trainee expecting any tangible material reward or career advancement due to the training.

“ON THE JOB” TRAINING

And – of course – if you want to avoid a formal training programme altogether – there is always my favourite good old time-tested “On-The-Job Training” philosophy which is breathtaking in its simplicity:

“Entrust a man with responsibility – and then tell him to get on with the job...!”

It is called “On the Job Training” and it always works – you can take my word for it...!!! 

The Navy believes in “On the Job Training” – and – during my Navy Days – I saw the efficacy of “On the Job Training” – especially on Ships. 

In my next blog post – I will tell you a hilarious story on “On-The-Job Training”.

TRAINING versus EDUCATION

Hey – Dear Reader – can you this please tell us the difference between Training and Education.

Is there a difference between “Training” and “Education”...? 

The difference between Training and Education is explained below. 

In my opinion – the difference between Training and Education is as follows:

1. The Aim of Training is to develop the required Skills in the Trainee

2. The Aim of Education is to enhance the Knowledge of the Student

In a nutshell:

“Training” pertains to “skill” development 

“Education” pertains to “knowledge” enhancement 

If so – what are various “Education Philosophies” akin to “Training Philosophies”...?

Hey – you Academics and Thinkers and Educationists out there.

Please throw some more light on this subject – so that we don’t confuse Training with Education – and vice versa. 


FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In a developing country like India – we need a skilled workforce.

Sadly – in India – we focus too much on Education. 

We have too many highly qualified individuals who are unemployable because they do not have the requisite skills.

Even Engineering and Technology Courses focus more on bookish knowledge than practical skill development.

Owing to this – most industrial organisations have to conduct induction training to develop the requisite skills – and make these degree engineers ready for work on the “shopfloor” – to put is metaphorically – and even I have had the opportunity to conduct Induction Training for newly recruited engineers and scientists.

Indian needs SKILL DEVELOPMENT – and – to achieve this – we have to focus more on TRAINING – rather than Degree Oriented Bookish EDUCATION.

We keep opening IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). 

But - in actual fact: 

We need more ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes).

In any case – most IIT students migrate abroad, mainly to USA, for lucrative careers and to realize their “American Dream”. 

So – India does not gain much from IITs.

On the other hand – ITI trainees work in Indian Industries.

We need more ITIs – maybe an ITI in each district.

So – we should proliferating IITs – and start opening ITIs instead.

Yes – in order to achieve “skill development” – India needs more ITIs than IITs.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Humor in Uniform – “Rankophilia” – Fake OLQ

Military Officers being overly rank-consciousness while in service is boorish behaviour. 

But – Military Veterans trying to flaunt their ranks after retirement looks ridiculous – because once you retire – most people don’t give a damn about who you were in the past. 

Whenever I see rank-conscious armed forces officers and military veterans – I remember this article I had written a few years ago on the subject...

RANKOPHILIA – FAKE “OLQ” 

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE

RANKOPHILIA 

RANKOPHILIA means Excessive Love of Rank (or Rank-Consciousness).

The greek word “philia” means excessive liking or love.

So rankophilia means excessive love of rank (or rank-consciousness).

And – an overly rank conscious officer may be called a “rankophile”.

If you have served in the Defence Services – you will have come across “rank consciousness” – especially in the highly regimented Army – where even some Army wives are excessively rank-conscious.

I have seen some such Rank Conscious Wives (RCWs) vitiate social life in the services.

We thought that as society becomes more egalitarian – the Army would also become more “modern” – and – “rank-consciousness” would decrease.

But – surprisingly – the opposite has happened – the Army is becoming more and more rank conscious – as more and more senior officers are being afflicted by the disease of “rankophilia”.

You may recall – that – sometime ago – a picture of a General delivering a speech while standing at a lectern decorated with a vehicle star plate went viral on the social media.

A few days later – there was another hilarious picture on the social media – this time a dignitary and his wife (both in civilian clothes) were sitting on a boat (pontoon) which had an army vehicle star plate fixed proudly displaying 3 stars.

I do not know where it is proper to display army star plates and where it is improper – but – we were told that – even while sitting in a vehicle – star plates are to be displayed only when the officer is proceeding on duty dressed in proper uniform.

A fellow “Fauji” Veteran told me that “rankophilia” is reaching epidemic proportions – and nowadays – Generals are using their ingenuity at displaying their stars in all possible ways – even while in civilian clothes and in civilian areas – on golf carts, golf caps, sporting hats, mugs, jackets, doors – almost everywhere where it is possible. 

(A witty veteran commented that soon Generals will tattoo stars on various parts of their bodies including on their “xxx” – Ha Ha – I leave it to your imagination...!!!)

For military officer – being rank conscious may be fine – while he is in service.

But – some of these snobbish types even try to throw around their “erstwhile” rank after retirement. 

(Ha Ha – some veterans will object to the use of the term “erstwhile rank” – and say that rank is for lifetime – okay – fine – but surely – after retirement – a senior officer becomes an “erstwhile” senior officer – actually – he becomes a civilian – since your rank has no authority/power once you retire – and – you are on par with any other veteran or civilian citizen)

A few years ago – I witnessed an amusing spectacle of a retired erstwhile senior army officer trying to pull rank and jump a queue for renewing his CSD Canteen Card – despite the fact that he was now a “retired nobody”.

Of course – he was put in his place by those veterans around him – and he was curtly told to get into the queue. 

The chastened rank-conscious snob beat a hasty retreat.

A friend told me that a similar scene happened in a bank during the annual “life certificate ritual” for pensioners – when a bank employee curtly told a retired General to get into the queue – while saying that – as far as the bank was concerned – all pensioners were equal.

I have seen some of these “rankophile” officers being totally ignored at veterans’ meets.

Some “smell the coffee” and mend their ways – and they mix around with everyone – while others withdraw into their shells and get isolated – and are never seen again at these veteran get-togethers.

I can say from my experience that the navy is much better than the army in this respect – and – even very senior officers quickly forget about their rank after retirement – and interact freely with everyone (In fact – many officers are not rank-conscious even while in service).

TYPES OF OFFICERS

When I was in the Defence Services (Navy) – I observed that there were Two Types of Officers:

1. GOOD OFFICERS (Genuine OLQ)

These were the confident type of officers – who carried themselves with poise and dignity – they were well-bred, polished, cultured and courteous.

These “good officers” were honest, transparent, fair and upright in their conduct – and quite humble, modest and down-to-earth in their behaviour. 

These officers did not need the “crutches of rank”  

In fact – by their exemplary demeanor – these officers enhanced the dignity of the rank they held. 

They always put “service before self...”. 

These “good officers” were role models for their juniors to admire and emulate.  

They truly epitomized the term: “An Officer and a Gentleman”. 

These Officers displayed Genuine “Officer-Like-Qualities” (OLQ)

2. CAREERIST STATUS CONSCIOUS SNOB (Fake OLQ) 

Then there were the insecure type – who were excessively rank conscious – haughty show-offs who believed in the dictum: 

“Boot your Juniors and Boot-lick your Seniors...” 

They were unabashed ambitious careerists – who put “self before service...” 

For them – their rank and status were everything.

For these insecure types – rank, promotion and their military career was the “be-all and end-all” of their life. 

They knew – in their hearts – that they lacked genuine “Officer Like Qualities” or OLQ.

So they faked OLQ.

These snobs faked OLQ by using bluff and bluster, pulling rank and overdoing the “Rank Has Its Privileges” or RHIP syndrome. 

These Officers displayed FAKE Officer-Like-Qualities (OLQ)

For these “Fake OLQ” types – rank was everything – because they knew – that – without the crutches of rank – they were Zero.

So – they wanted to get promoted at any cost – and they were prepared to go to any extent – and stoop to any level – in order to achieve their sole aim of getting promoted to high rank. 

It is this insecure and ambitious type of careerist officers – who often misuse their rank – and get involved in scams, scandals and unethical acts and tarnish the good name of the service. 

Such careerists may get promoted to high rank – but by their unethical conduct – they terribly damage the reputation of the entire service.

Snobbish and pretentious behaviour is a sign of Low Self-Esteem.

Yes – Low Self–Esteem that is the root cause of RANKOPHILIA (Excessive Love of Rank or Rank Consciousness)

FAKE OLQ

Rankophilia is “Fake OLQ”

As I told you at the beginning – the greek word “philia” means excessive liking or love.

So – “rankophilia” means excessive love for rank 

And – an overly rank-conscious officer may be called a “rankophile”

A STORY FOR RANKOPHILES

Do you see any status-conscious, pompous, egotistical snobs and rankophiles around you – who seem to be afflicted with rankophilia...?

Maybe you can tell them this “inspirational story” – in the hope that they will introspect, reflect – and change for the better.

DROP YOUR EGO

(AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY FOR STATUS CONSCIOUS SNOBS)

Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral in Kyoto.

One day the Governor of Kyoto called on him for the first time.

He gave his visiting card to the attendant and sought audience with Keichu.

The attendant went inside and presented the visiting card of the Governor to Keichu.

The visiting card had the following words engraved on it: 

Kitagaki

GOVERNOR OF KYOTO

The Zen Teacher Keichu looked at the visiting card and said to the attendant: 

“I have no business with such a fellow. I do not want to meet him. Just tell him to get out of here...”

The attendant carried the visiting card back to the Governor with apologies.

The attendant told Governor Kitagi what the Zen Teacher Keichu had said. 

Governor Kitagi said: 

“I made a mistake. I will correct my error...” 

The Governor asked the attendant for a pencil. 

The attendant gave the Governor a pencil.

Then – Governor Kitagi took the visiting card – and – with the pencil – Governor Kitagaki scratched out the words “GOVERNOR OF KYOTO” 

Yes – Governor Kitagi scratched out the words “GOVERNOR OF KYOTO” 

Now – the visiting card carried only his name “Kitagaki”

Governor Kitagaki then gave the visiting card back to the attendant and said to him: 

“Please take this visiting card to your teacher – and ask him again – if he would please give me an audience...”

The Zen Teacher Keichu saw the visiting card and exclaimed with happiness: 

“Oh – it’s that Kitagaki...? I want to see that fellow. Send him inside immediately...”

MORAL OF THE STORY

So – that’s the secret of how to overcome rankophilia.

If you want to get rid of RANKOPHILIA – just DROP YOUR RANK and DROP YOUR EGO.

Yes – while in service – and – especially after retirement: 

DROP YOUR RANK  – and – DROP YOUR EGO

Why is everyone so obsessed with rank, status, power, wealth, fame and other egoistic trappings...?

Your INDIVIDUAL QUALITIES matter much more than your RANK. 

Your EXTERNAL RANK will go away one day

but 

Your INTRINSIC WORTH will remain with you forever – and maybe – it will be remembered as your LEGACY. 

And – once you retire – what matters more are your PRESENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS – rather than your PAST RANK – which is irrelevant in modern egalitarian society. 

Dear Reader: Do you agree...?  

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This blog post is a spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This is a Revised Version of my Article Posted Earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog by me Vikram Karve at 7/11/2013 04:45:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/rankophilia-love-of-rank-or-rank.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/01/humor-in-uniform-rankophilia-fauji.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/04/rankophilia-fake-olq.html