NATA - Not Another Training Acronym

Love them or hate them, acronyms are everywhere.  Everytime I go to a new company or read something there are a shed load of acronyms and I have spent a lot of time getting confused and wasted a lot of time just trying to work them out .   

One of my first jobs was for an automotive company, I worked there for several years and  it was drummed into me that CV was always Commercial Vehicles and PC was always passenger car, that so changed when I had to write a CV and then train people to use PC's.   I know how annoying it can be when people throw acryonms at you and just expect you to know what they mean.  To help I have started compiling a list, I  won't add every single one I know as there are just too many but these are quite useful and some are quite funny.  I promise I will add more to it as they crop up but here are some for starters: 

ADDIE - Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (Instructional Systems Development process model).

AIDA - Attention, Interest, Desire and Action.  (Another model)

AKA - Also Known As. (Pretty much recognised and understood everywhere)

ALF - Always Listen First. (I Really wish more people would do this)  

BEER - Behaviour, Effect, Expectation and Results. (and yet another model)
BID - Break It Down. (One of the first rules of training, because you never should try to teach everything in one go. Well you can try but just see how well they get on).
CARE - Crap And Really Expensive. (Also known as most cowboy plumbers, electricians and consultants). 

CRAFT - Can't Remember A Flaming Thing. (Refers to any mandatory training event or just me in my old age).

CYA - Cover Your Ass (Because it will bite you there if you don't).

DSM - Don't Shoot Me (I am just the messenger, well the Trainer but it's the same thing).

FEAR - Forget Everything And Run. (I've just got a new job).

GREAT - Get Really Excited About Today (What I tell everyone at the beginning of a Training Session)

IIP - Investors In People. (Many Employers like to get this before re-organising the company for the 100th time).

KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid (because it makes it easier to retain or you'll be retraining)
KPI - Key Performance Indicator. (Targets in business generally linked to your performance bonus)

NLP - Neuro-Linguistic Programming. (When you touch your nose I know you are lying). 

PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between the Keyboard And Chair.  (Silent Trainer Talk)

PEACE - Pray Everyday and Cherish Everyone. (Trainer talk for I hope it all works and I promise not to strangle anyone today)

PICNIC - Problem In Chair Not In Computer. (Silent Trainer Talk)

PRIDE - Personal Responsibility in Delivering Excellence. (Another top rule for Trainers) 

SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely (Business goals again generally linked to your performance bonus)

SME - Subject Matter Expert. (Knows everything about the company and the process, not usually the best person for change)

STAR - Show Thankfulness, Appreciation and Respect. (Trainer Motto)

STATE - Staying Together and Trusting Everyone. (Now who wants to be in a STATE?)

SWAG - Scientific, Wild Ass Guess (Not trainer talk but very handy in certain occasions)

SWOT - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats. (If you cannot think of anything else to do, then do a SWOT analysis). 

TNA - Training Needs Analysis.

WIIFM - What's In It For Me? (Trainer presentation tips - explain to your audience what they are going to get out of this)

WIT - Works In Theory.(But generally never in practice).

WTFP - What's The Flipping Point. (Response to being asked to train 250 people at the same time for 3 days straight on a system that was going to be binned)
WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get (Pretty much there's nothing else to it)

YOYO - You're On Your Own (What I was told on a one off training assignment with no systems or support)