Employee Training And Development

 

What is training and development?

Leading firms have invested considerably in employee training and development in recent years because the benefits to employers are vast and diversified. Employee training has recently emerged as a critical business strategy for not only retaining employees but also developing a trained workforce for the future. Although the terms 'development' and 'training' are frequently used interchangeably, employee training and development are distinct. Employee training, on the other hand, has defined, measurable goals that pertain to enhancing the productivity and accuracy of present operations, whereas development programs focus on broader skills such as leadership, communication, and decision making.

                        Simply defined, employee training and development is a broader idea that extends beyond specific job responsibilities. Employee development programs boost employees' future performance and progress, whereas employee training focuses on learning new skills and collecting specialized knowledge that employees may immediately apply to make major changes in their existing job positions. Employee training and development are becoming more important than ever as organizations struggle to retain top personnel. There is a compelling correlation between corporate performance and learning, according to McKinsey. According to Edward Hess, a business administration professor, and author, "Companies that learn the fastest and adapt well to changing environments perform the best over time."

Advantages of Employee Training and Development

Because every business has different needs, the importance of employee training may differ depending on specific areas and functions. Here are some guidelines for determining when your employees require training or development:

1. When your organization is experiencing a knowledge or talent gap.

2. When you need to improve performance in specific areas or functions. 

3. When it is necessary to fill specific skill gaps.

4. When your company requires employees to be trained in specific programs.

5. When your company's technology is being updated.

6. When you need to create unique strategies for each employee.

Best Employee Training Methods & Advantages

1. eLearning

eLearning has become one of the most widely used employee training methods, particularly in post-pandemic environments where employees are dispersed and unable to attend in-person training sessions. Employees can learn in the comfort of their own homes, according to their particular learning styles and needs, thanks to eLearning. 

Advantages

✔ To keep employees engaged and enhance knowledge retention, online courses integrate interactive games, quizzes, activities, and gamification.

✔ It allows employees to learn the way to use a smartphone. 

✔ Some aspects of eLearning can be automated, reducing overhead and the instructor's need to be constantly involved in the training. 

✔ Scalability is a feature of eLearning.

✔ Because eLearning does not require a physical classroom, financial costs are reduced.

✔ Employees can effortlessly balance work and learning by taking online courses at their leisure. 

2. On the Job Training

Employees can actively participate in on-the-job training since it allows them to learn while they are working. It is one of the most successful employee training methods for teaching a new software application or procedure through in-app and on-screen walkthroughs and guides that assist users in navigating various application features and tasks. The ultimate purpose of on-the-job training is for users to absorb new tools or features more quickly.

Advantages

✔ On-the-job training produces greater results since employees learn more easily when working on a project.

✔ Employees who are trained on the job save money that would otherwise be spent on costly off-site training programs.

✔ Employees learn new skills without interfering with their daily routines or production.

✔ Allows employees to focus on the skills most relevant to their profession, facilitating tailored training.

3. Roleplaying

This technique involves both a learner and an instructor acting out probable workplace events. This strategy is especially beneficial for employees whose jobs require direct client or customer connection, as it allows them to practice dealing with challenging circumstances with consumers.

Advantages

✔ Employee engagement is increased via roleplaying for relatable events.

✔ Encourages students to use problem-solving and critical thinking abilities in the present moment.

✔ Employees are more prepared for challenging job situations.

✔ Employees' client interaction abilities are improved.

4. Video Training

Video training is one of the most effective employee training tools for engaging employees and delivering complex learning experiences at a lesser cost than traditional training. Creating training videos for employees allows them to digest knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner that is easier to recall and that employees can watch at any time.

Advantages

✔ Investing in video training is a one-time expense for video production that can be used until your methods become obsolete.

✔ Videos increase team member engagement, which increases the likelihood of information retention.

✔ Allows employees to learn when it is convenient for them without interfering with their workplace productivity.

✔ In comparison to basic text documents or traditional classroom seminars, videos improve knowledge retention, employee engagement, and learner attention.

5. Job Shadowing

Job shadowing allows people to follow and observe other professionals functioning in various job roles in order to acquire insight into their work environment. Job shadowing is also used to allow less experienced persons to work alongside experienced experts in order to learn from those who have already mastered the abilities.

Advantages

✔ Improves communication across departments.

✔ Employees' constant development and progress are aided.

✔ Allows employees to investigate many potential career paths for themselves.

✔ It is a fantastic approach for the person being shadowed to share their experiences with other coworkers.

✔ It takes less time than an internship.

6. Coaching

An experienced professional, such as a supervisor, mentor, or veteran employee, mentors or coaches an employee on specific job tasks and responsibilities. Because the coaching method can be used in-person or virtually, it is suitable for both in-office and remote workforces.

Advantages

✔ Creates an ongoing relationship between employees once training is completed. 

✔ Allows employees to ask questions that they might not be allowed to ask in a classroom setting during instructor-led training. 

✔ Employees learn by observing their mentor in action.

7. Collaborative Training

Collaborative training is a strategy in which individuals share their knowledge and skills while simultaneously educating and learning from one another. By using employees' talents, ideas, and knowledge, this strategy improves the overall training experience.

Advantages

✔ Creates a common learning culture by fostering a collaborative environment among team members.

✔ When training is done in groups, both time and money are saved.

✔ Increases learning retention.

8. Cross-Training

Cross-training entails teaching an individual recruited to execute one job function the abilities needed to do another. This enables your staff to provide assistance in times of need rather than needing to outsource jobs. Employees view cross-training as useful to their personal development since it requires them to learn new skills to increase their value within the firm or switch to a role that they believe is more aligned with their professional goals. 

✔ Prepares employees to temporarily fill a vacant position in an emergency. 

✔ Employees' present skill base is supplemented with new skills.

✔ Teams become more collaborative by actively assisting one another.

✔ Increased ability to promote from within, lowering recruitment expenditures.

Conclusion

Finally, employee training and development are critical components of any organization. It not only improves employees' skills and knowledge, but also their performance, productivity, and job happiness. Employee development programs assist employees in adapting to changes in technology, company procedures, and market trends, allowing them to remain competitive in an ever-changing corporate world. Furthermore, investing in employee training and development is a wise business decision because it results in increased employee retention, talent attraction, and profitability. Organizations can foster a culture of continuous development and innovation by offering a supportive learning environment and ongoing training opportunities. This is critical for success in today's fast-paced business climate.

Organizations must frequently examine their training and development programs to ensure that they meet the changing demands of the firm and its employees. To ensure the success and relevance of training programs, businesses should prioritize employee feedback and participation in their development and delivery. Overall, employee training and development is an important investment for any organization that wants to stay competitive, innovative, and successful in the long run.

References

 What is training and development? | IBM (no date) What is training and development? | IBM. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/topics/training-development (Accessed: April 19, 2023).

A Guide to Creating an Employee Training and Development Program - HSI (no date) HSI. Available at: https://hsi.com/blog/a-guide-to-creating-an-employee-training-and-development-program (Accessed: April 19, 2023).

Employee Training and Development - ppt video online download (no date) Employee Training and Development - ppt video online download. Available at: https://slideplayer.com/slide/4518003/ (Accessed: April 19, 2023).

jordan.friedman (2022) 14 Types of Employee Training: Which Is Right for Your Workforce?, Emeritus Online Courses. Available at: https://emeritus.org/blog/types-of-employee-training/ (Accessed: April 19, 2023).

What Is Employee Training? | 2023 Comprehensive Guide (2023) What Is Employee Training? | 2023 Comprehensive Guide. Available at: https://www.selecthub.com/learning-management/5-reasons-need-employee-training-software/ (Accessed: April 19, 2023).