DO NOT RUN

- Don't go on what the budget was last year. Instead, find out what problems people are facing, and what skills or knowledge is needed for this year's initiatives.

- Keep in mind that your budget isn't the last word on what training goes on at your organization. Individual departments may arrange their own training with a vendor.

- Pay attention to the hidden costs such as printing manuals, paper, and ink.

- Build in a layer of extra money for training requests that aren't in your original budget.

- Act as a consultant for department heads or managers who want to arrange development for their employees but don't have the knowledge or time to do it well.

- Examine each decision on a training expenditure and ask, "What will this training accomplish?"