Workplace Training: Why is it important?

In order for any business to be successful, it is essential that its employees possess the proper skill sets to do their jobs at a high level.  Since most employees do not enter a company completely equipped to fit their new position, training is very important.  Though many employers view training as simply a burdensome expense, it should really be viewed as an investment into your employees’ and your company’s future.  Not only is it important for your employees to be well-trained and educated for their job, it is also vital that they continue to learn and grow as your company, industry and technology evolve.  In addition, training allows you to ensure that standards and expectations remain consistent throughout your organization, as all employees are on the same page.

A successful training program takes time and effort to develop. If you don’t invest the time on the front end, your result will not be nearly as effective or worthwhile. Use the following steps as a guideline for developing your training program:

Needs Analysis

  • Assess your employee and company needs to determine where problem areas or deficiencies exist. You can gather information through a combination of observation, interviews and reviewing personnel files.

Identify Program Objectives

  • What are the skills, behaviors, knowledge and attitudes you’d like your employees to learn? What do they already know, what do they do now, and how would you like that to change? Answering those questions can help you create concrete objectives for your training program.

Design the Programs

  • Decide what content the program should contain, what activities should be included, and what instructional methods would be most appropriate. Some common methods include lectures, readings, demonstrations, case studies, computer-based and role playing.

Evaluate

  • Ongoing evaluation is crucial for any training program. You should periodically revisit your objectives, analyze your progress, and determine if you are meeting your objectives with your current program. Based on your conclusions, adapt your program in order to better meet your goals and expectations.

 

Effective training programs share many qualities.  Work on crafting, implementing and maintaining your training program by getting management on board, recognize and reward to promote employee interest, make your objectives measurable to ensure you are meeting your goals, and don’t stop at one training!

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