Zac Echola is muffin but trouble

Be it: Paul Conley on training

Published on 09/01/08
by Zac Echola

I came across this very provocative post from Paul Conley today:

At this point, you can’t blame the boss for not teaching these things. The difficult truth is that people who can’t insert a hyperlink, who won’t read a blog, who don’t know how to work with Photoshop and can’t upload a video file just aren’t worth having around anymore.”

Now, as difficult times loom, I’m taking an even harder stance.
I’m urging employers not to offer any training in Web journalism.

My comment is awaiting moderation on his blog, but here’s the gist of it: I agree to a point.

We can teach anybody to do just about anything online. The Web could not be easier to learn. The difficulty comes in changing hearts and minds. We can lead the proverbial horse to water, but we can’t make it drink the kool-aid.

At some point, managers have to fire people that don’t fit. Every good manager knows that people who don’t fit a culture anymore can become a cancer. Every good manager hates this fact. If the business has moved to the Web, but certain employees have refused to learn, I can see situations where firing may be the only valid option.

That’s business with or without the turmoil of transition.  I just don’t know if we’re quite at this point yet.

The end. Or is it?

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