Vanna White recently learned an important lesson about training. While White has been a part of Wheel of Fortune for 37 years, as the person who reveals the letters on the puzzles, she’s never hosted the program.
That changed recently, when host, Pat Sajak, had to undergo emergency surgery. As shows were scheduled that day, the Wheel of Fortune producers had to make a quick decision. They decided it would be best to go ahead with the recordings and have Vanna White serve as host.
White, who ended up hosting several weeks of the program, says she was scared and nervous when she got the request. In published reports, she says that while she’s been on the job for 37 years, she’s always been focused on her part of the program and not Sajak’s position.
While her first show as host had a few bumps, as she had to get used to talking to contestants, keeping score, and spinning the heavier than expected wheel, White has been praised for filling in during the crisis.
While your job may not involve a nationally syndicated game show, are you prepared for unexpected emergencies that could remove key personnel from your organization? From a medical problem, to family needs, these things happen.
This is why it’s important to make sure positions in your business have identified backups. Here are some tips to help make an unexpected absence a smooth transition:
Vanna White Would Love This Training Process
Have employees write down the critical, reoccurring tasks they perform. Don’t let these be a mystery. The instructions need to be updated when any part of the process changes. They should be placed in an easy to find location, whether it’s a labeled binder or a computer folder.
Make Time for Training
Every business has slow periods during the year. Use this time for backups to meet and walk through the duties of their positions. Don’t assume your employee will remember a training session from several years ago, so schedule these sessions periodically.
It’s unlikely someone will just know what to do and perform at a high level, when there is an unexpected absence.
Have a Followup Process
Create a culture where people are judged on how well they’ve prepared their backup. If it’s their job, then they should accept responsibility for the roadmap when they’re out of the office.
After an absence, both parties should meet and discuss how things went. This is when you find out if the instructions were clear and if improvements should be made.
These steps would make Vanna White proud because she now knows what it’s like to be thrust into a job, when you’re not prepared.
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