Why training fails - and how to fix it.

By Kristen Hayer / November 24, 2025

When I look back at the hundreds of teams I’ve worked with, one pattern always stands out. Training doesn’t fail because people don’t care. It fails because companies treat it like a checkbox. Shadowing becomes the default. Generic sessions get recycled. And no one ever pauses to ask whether the training actually changed anything.

Writing my section for The CS Talent Playbook reminded me that real development takes intention. It takes structure. And most importantly, it takes measurement. When you build a program that ties skills to outcomes, reinforces learning over time, and gives people a clear path to improve, performance follows. It’s not magic - it’s discipline.

As you plan for the year ahead, this is the moment to rethink how you invest in your teams. Make training a strategic advantage, not an afterthought.

Takeaway: You need to plan for training, and not just go through the motions.

The Success League has provided a Training Plan Template you can use to build a new talent onboarding program that really works.