Noe 2020 Employee Training And Development

So, you’ve been handed Raymond Noe’s Employee Training and Development (2020 edition), and you’re thinking, “Great, a book that reads like a brick wrapped in corporate jargon.” Relax. Put down the coffee and lean in. This thing is actually hilarious—if you know where to look. It’s basically a survival guide for your brain at work, written by a guy who clearly has seen a manager try to teach someone how to use Excel using interpretive dance.

The Shocking Truth: Your Boss is a Guinea Pig

Here’s a surprising fact that Noe drops like a mic: 90% of what you learn in a training session evaporates within a week. That’s right—your company spent thousands on that “synergy seminar,” and your brain treated it like a bad Tinder date: forgotten by Monday. Noe calls this the “transfer of training” problem, but I call it “proof that PowerPoint is a memory virus.”

Playful exaggeration? Maybe. But Noe argues that if you don’t practice a new skill within six hours, you’ve basically paid to watch a guy talk about “leveraging deliverables.” The book is surprisingly cheeky about this, suggesting companies should bribe you with real rewards—like cash or cake—to actually remember stuff. That’s the kind of HR policy I can get behind.

Neuroscience, But Make It Funny

Noe dives into how your brain is basically a lazy squirrel. It wants to hoard acorns (knowledge) but only if the acorns aren’t boring. He uses terms like “cognitive load”—which sounds like a laundry detergent—to explain why you zone out after 45 minutes. Fun science bomb: Your brain can only hold about seven pieces of new information at once. That’s it. Seven. So when your trainer blasts you with 47 bullet points, you’re basically trying to juggle flaming chainsaws. No wonder we all remember the free donuts instead.

And get this: Noe says gamification actually works. Not the fake “click the gold star” stuff, but real competition. One study he cites found that sales teams that played a Jeopardy!-style game learned 40% faster. That means your next training might involve buzzers and public humiliation. I’m here for it.

The “You Suck” Sandwich: Feedback That Doesn’t Stink

Let’s talk feedback. You know the drill: your manager says, “You’re doing great, but…” That “but” is a tiny bomb made of sadness. Noe suggests a different approach: “Behavioral Modeling.” It’s not as creepy as it sounds. Instead of telling you that you stink at public speaking, they show you a video of someone who is less awkward than a potato. You mimic it. It works. The book literally has a step labeled “practice, practice, practice,” which is the same advice for learning the kazoo. Coincidence?

Here’s the kicker: Noe claims that peer feedback is often more accurate than your boss’s. Your cubicle neighbor knows you snack-shamed the vending machine. That honesty? Gold. So next time you get a performance review, just bring a bag of chips and honesty. See what happens.

Figure: Training Design Framework Practiced in Bangladesh (Raymond A

Tech That Doesn’t Hate You

The 2020 edition is basically a love letter to VR and mobile learning. Noe points out that Walmart used virtual reality to train employees for Black Friday. They literally had people in headsets practicing how to not get trampled by a grandmother looking for a discounted TV. That’s Wild West stuff. He also notes that micro-learning—like two-minute videos on your phone—boosts retention by 50%. Because nothing says “professional development” like learning conflict resolution while pooping at your desk. Don’t pretend you won’t do it.

But here’s the real tea: Noe warns that 60% of CEOs think training is a waste of money. Yep. Even the guys paying for it don’t believe in it. So the book is basically a manual to slap some sense into them. “Stop treating training like a checkbox,” Noe shouts (metaphorically). “Let people learn from their hilarious mistakes.” That’s leadership, baby.

Surprising Fact That Will Blow Your Mind

Ready? Companies that invest heavily in training see a 24% higher profit margin. No, that’s not a typo. Twenty-four percent. That means for every dollar you spend on teaching Dave how to use Outlook without crying, the company makes a quarter back. So training isn’t just about feeling warm and fuzzy—it’s about buying your boss a second yacht. Okay, maybe not, but it’s close. Noe frames this as “human capital theory,” but I frame it as “the only reason you won’t get fired for watching YouTube tutorials at work.”

The Final Sip of Coffee (Conclusion)

Look, Noe’s book is basically a comedy roast of how dumb corporate training used to be. It’s packed with stats that make you gasp (90% forgetting rate!) and strategies that actually make sense (learn by doing, not by napping). If you’re a manager, read it for the chapter on “Why Your Employees Secretly Hate Your Role-Playing Exercises.” If you’re an employee, read it to weaponize knowledge about how your brain works. “I can’t do this boring task; my cognitive load is full!”

So next time Noe 2020 shows up on your reading list, don’t groan. Pop open a soda, imagine your boss in a VR headset failing at customer service, and enjoy the ride. You might actually learn something—and more importantly, you’ll have a killer story for the café.