How to Identify, Plan, & Deliver Needed Training in 2026
How to Identify, Plan, & Deliver Needed Training in 2026
The end of the year is the perfect time to look ahead and decide what training will help staff and volunteers do their work more effectively in 2026. Taking the time to plan now can help ensure you focus on the right things later. When you plan ahead, you give your team time to prepare, budget, and align training with goals that matter most to your organization. You also create the space to think strategically—connecting training to your mission, upcoming projects, and performance goals rather than responding only to urgent issues.
The right training can fix a lot of different problems, but how do you know which issue to fix first—or what kind of training is most likely to get the job done? In this session, we’ll use a simple approach to figure it out. You’ll answer four key questions to identify your most pressing training needs for the year ahead. Then, we’ll apply a simple scoring system to decide where to start—what to schedule first, what can wait, and what can come off the list altogether. The process works across departments and roles, so you can collaborate with others to create a shared view of what’s most important.
Finally, we’ll match each priority to the right type of training. You’ll see when cross-training or job shadowing builds flexibility, where mentorship and networking make the biggest difference, and when formal coursework or short tutorials offer the best return. We’ll also explore how to build training into your regular workflow so learning feels natural, not like an extra task. You’ll leave with a realistic plan for 2026 and a reusable framework to guide your team’s learning priorities every year.
By the end of this webinar, you’ll be able to:
- Identify your key training needs for 2026.
- Prioritize and schedule what to tackle first using a clear, repeatable method.
- Choose the right type of training—cross‑training, mentorship, formal courses, or short tutorials—to fit different needs and objectives.
VIRTUAL | DECEMBER 3, 2025 | 1pm-2pm EST
Your Instructor Margaret Helthaler
Margaret Helthaler is the Director of Marketing at Niche Academy, but she isn’t your typical marketer. With a BFA in graphic design, MFA in visual art, and a certificate in eLearning Instructional Design and Development, Margaret was a freelance graphic designer and college professor for many years—including over a decade of online teaching, curriculum development, training, and faculty management. She served Niche Academy as an instructional designer for three years before assuming her current marketing role. In her spare time, Margaret enjoys hiking, birdwatching, embroidery, and other creative pursuits.