Why Adults Dislike Learning and How Effective Corporate Training can Help

Have you ever walked into a corporate training session and thought, Why am I even here?

Or left a corporate training workshop feeling like nothing you learned applies to your life or on the job? That’s not just frustrating. It’s a colossal waste of time and energy.

Here’s the Problem: Most Learning Is Designed for Kids, Not Adults. Conventional learning programs treat adults like blank slates, ignoring the wealth of experiences and self-motivation we bring.

They fail to acknowledge that we don’t just want to memorize things. We want to solve things.

This disconnect creates significant pain points in corporate training:

1. Irrelevance: Why sit through hours of theory when you need actionable solutions now?
2. Lack of Autonomy: Adults crave control over their learning, but traditional models box us into rigid, top-down systems.
3. Wasted Potential: Your past experiences should enhance your learning, not be dismissed as irrelevant.

Andragogy is the Solution You’ve Been Waiting for.

Developed by Malcolm Knowles, andragogy flips the script on how adults learn. No more dumping information but designing learning experiences that respect your time, intelligence, and goals.

Here’s what makes it different:

1. Learning with Purpose: Adults want to know, “What’s in it for me?” Andragogy starts with clear, relevant goals tied to real-world challenges.
2. Self-Driven Paths: Instead of forcing everyone down the same path, learners can explore and decide what matters most.
3. Experience Matters: Your past knowledge becomes a strength, shaping and enhancing how you learn.
4. Problem-Solving Focus: Forget rote memorization. This is about actionable strategies you can use today.

Imagine this: A training program where every module is tailored to solve challenges you face at work. Workshops that feel more like brainstorming sessions, where your input matters as much as the trainer’s.

Leaving every session with tools you can apply immediately and the confidence to use them.

Here’s the truth: Adults don’t need training; they need transformation. And that starts with treating them like the capable, experienced individuals they are.

What’s one training experience that completely missed the mark for you?