Should I be creating all my communication skills training content from scratch?
- Carly (CJ) Shorter
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Should you be creating all your training content from scratch when you could be delivering proven programmes instead? Hell no, unless you're an instructional designer, why not start with something proven? Research from the Chapman Alliance reveals that developing one hour of eLearning content from scratch takes 220 hours of development time [1], while even a basic 20-minute course costs $3,275 and requires 65 hours to build [2].
Creating training content from scratch is like building your own car when you could buy a Tesla. Sure, you'll get exactly what you want, but you'll spend years learning engineering, design, and manufacturing before you get a working vehicle.
Most trainers fall into the DIY trap because they think their content needs are so unique that nothing else will work. Wrong. The fundamentals of communication, leadership, and workplace skills are universal. What changes is the wrapper, not the core principles.
Here's what happens when you go the scratch route: You spend months researching, writing, designing, and testing content that covers ground already covered brilliantly by people who've spent decades perfecting it. Meanwhile, you could be delivering proven programmes that work while you focus on what matters—facilitating great learning experiences.
The smart move? Start with licensed content that's already battle-tested. You get proven frameworks, ready-to-use materials, and support systems built by instructional design experts. Then customise the delivery to fit your style and your audience's needs.
If your expertise isn't in building content - then make it in bringing content to life. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and start making existing wheels work better for your people.
Related Questions:
How long does it take to develop quality training content from scratch? Expect 43-220 hours of development time per hour of finished content, depending on complexity and interactivity level.
What's the biggest risk of creating content from scratch as a new trainer? Spending months on content creation instead of developing actual training delivery skills that participants will notice.
When does it make sense to create original content instead of licensing? Only when you have very specific, unique requirements that proven programs can't address, and you have instructional design expertise.