Many training departments seem to have a hard time justifying themselves to the mainstream aspects of business. Not because training isn't necessary, but because trainers may not be well-prepared to show their essential role in improving the company bottom line.

In theory, everyone knows education is a good thing, self-improvement, blah, blah, blah. The denotation of training is a good thing-continuous (over a lifetime-not just a one-time event) learning in order to improve efficiency, speed and creativity in how a task gets completed. But somehow, along the way, the connotation of "training" became negative, like a money-sucking leech on corporate cash flow. Many corporate trainers don't know how to respond to that argument.

An April article in the United Kingdom's Daily Telegraph said engaged employees tend to function at higher levels over time and help boost productivity. One way to engage employees is through training. The logic of the implementation of this is a basic if-then statement. If you can engage your employees through training, then engaged employees will boost productivity thus adding income to cash flow-not leech from it. So, therefore, training is a cash positive proposition, not more red ink.

To stop the mumbling and grumbling by mandating some training, provide self-learn opportunities that allow for just-in-time training. Quick videos, access to wikis, bite-sized learning modules-all of these allow for self-directed, self-chosen learning opportunities that help keep employees engaged and sharpening their skills, both of which benefit the company.

Two benefits of these methods are a) they don't require the expense of an instructor right there but do provide learning opportunities and b) you may be able to weed out those who aren't self-directed and are a drain on company resources.