The post-training slump is real: why accountability matters
You’ve just attended one of our professional development days. A day full of information on Dementia, changes in retirement villages laws, and a full-on workshop on Great Expectation Management with Jacqui Perkins (pictured above).
You leave with a head full of ideas, inspired to make changes.
Then life happens. The emails pile up, the to-do list grows, and before long, your takeaways fade into the background.
This is what we call the post-training slump. It’s a real challenge for professionals across every industry. The good news is there is a solution: accountability.
According to Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, people who write down their goals, share them with others, and engage in regular accountability are 42% more likely to achieve them.
In her study, In her study, Dr Matthews identified that by simply articulating an action plan you significantly boost the chances of following-through.
So, how can Village Professionals turn training into real, lasting improvement? Let’s break it down.
Write It Down, Share It, and Own It
After-Action Reviews (AARs) are widely recognised as an effective strategy for ensuring accountability and continuous improvement following training sessions
Before the inspiration wears off, write down your top three takeaways and share them with a peer or supervisor. Better yet, commit to one immediate action and schedule a follow-up to discuss progress.
Tip: Try the “Monday Morning Rule”. By the following Monday, apply at least one new concept from your training.
Set Micro-Goals for Real Impact
“You can’t boil the ocean.”
Breaking down your learnings into small, actionable goals makes it easier to stay accountable.
For example, one of the BIG ‘ah ha’ moments of Jacqui’s session were ‘bridge burning words.’ If your takeaway was to stop using words such as BUT, HOWEVER or UNFORTUNATELY, then what are you doing to check your emails to make sure you don’t fall back into old ways? Progress happens through consistent, small efforts.
Create a Follow-Up Culture
Learning is most powerful when it’s shared. Research suggests having a structured accountability system increases goal achievement rates by up to 95%. This is why team debriefs after training sessions can be so effective.
Schedule a 15-minute follow-up with your Accountability Buddy who attended our Professional Development Day. Ask them, what has worked? What challenges have come up? Keeping each other accountable creates a ripple effect that ensures learning translates into action.
Measure Progress and Celebrate Wins
“What gets measured, gets managed,” says business expert Peter Drucker.
Keep track of how you’re applying your learnings, and don’t be afraid to celebrate even the small wins. Did a new strategy improve a resident interaction? Has a small change made your workflow smoother? Recognising progress keeps motivation high and reinforces the value of ongoing learning.
Yesterday was just the beginning
Attending a professional development day is not the finish line—it’s the starting point.
As Jacqui said, “its not about the wedding, its about the marriage.”
Without accountability, even the best training risks becoming just another “nice-to-have” moment. When we commit to follow-through, we transform learning into growth—both for ourselves and the communities we serve.
So, what’s your next move? What will you do today to turn insight into action?
