This or that? My cheat-sheet for training packs vs training guides

When delivering training, there’s a raft of formats, tools and methods you can use. I share a list of all the most common ones in Module 4 of my Leading Successful Change program. One of the most common is training packs and training guides. They sound like they could be the same thing but they are actually different. So what’s the difference between “training pack” and “training guide”? 

Here’s my view:

Definition of a training pack

In the context of training, a pack would be either: 

• a presentation slide deck to use in training delivery, or 
• a training pack with printed materials that might include other training materials guides, manuals, FAQs, etc. 

The presentation slide deck could be used in a face-to-face or online training, or even be provided in a digital format for leaders or Subject Matter Experts to use to train their teams. 

The training pack with printed materials might be handed out in a face-to-face training or sent out for self-paced learning. It could also be delivered digitally to leaders to distribute to their teams.

Definition of a training guide

A guide is shorter with specific step-by-step instructions but still quite high level. This category might include: 

•  A Quick Guide or Quick Reference Guide (QRG) which could be a few pages long
•  A Quick Reference Card (QRC) which would usually be 1-2 pages max. 

This is in direct opposition to a Training Manual or End User Training Manual, which is usually very detailed and extensive step-by-step with all the ifs, ands, buts, scenarios, options, and errors. A training guide is supposed to be a quick and easy high level set of instructions that can be used day to day and can potentially point to the Training Manual if someone needs further clarification, information, or instruction.

Training packs and training guides are only two ideas for training delivery and really it’s about having the entire training toolkit at your disposal and the confidence to select the best options for your change.

Lata xx

P.S. Did you know Training is just one part of Organisational Change Management? The other major parts are Communications and Business Readiness and I share tons of ideas for these in my free Creative Launch Ideas Guide: download it here