Have you ever considered why some companies consistently outperform their competitors in terms of productivity, customer satisfaction and employee morale? The answer may lie in their commitment to comprehensive and effective employee training programs.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) highlights an increasing skill gap in today’s workforce, a problem that can be effectively addressed with comprehensive training and development initiatives. In this article, we’ll be discussing the top 14 types of employee training for workforce development. We’ll also look at the success factors of effective employee training programs, their benefits, and the costs associated with implementing them.
New Employee Orientation
Orientation serves as the first taste of your company’s culture and expectations for new employees. It’s vital in setting the groundwork for a successful relationship between the employee and their new workplace. It provides an overview of the company’s mission, values, and standards, and positions the employee to contribute effectively.
Team Training
To foster a coordinated, collaborative, and efficient environment, team training is necessary. It widens employees’ perspectives, blurs structural boundaries, and enhances mutual understanding and empathy. The result is a team that’s in tune with each other, effectively working towards a common goal.
Leadership Training
The need for skilled and effective leaders cannot be overstated. Leadership training grooms employees for leadership roles and nurtures their ability to guide, inspire and align their teams to realize the organization’s objectives.
Senior Executive Training
Though experienced, senior executives are not exempt from training. They need to stay abreast of industry trends, improve their decision-making skills, and understand the evolving demands of their role. This training maximizes their potential, enabling them to lead the organization towards success.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training
In today’s globalized world, fostering an accepting and inclusive workplace is crucial. DEI training promotes an understanding and respect for differences and encourages a fair and inclusive company culture.
Technical Skills Training
Technical skills are an essential part of many jobs. This type of training helps employees to proficiently use the necessary tools and software, follow advanced procedures, and operate unique equipment.
Customer Service Training
Exceptional customer service is a significant differentiator for businesses. It helps retain existing customers and attract new ones. Training employees in effective customer service techniques can improve your company’s reputation and profitability.
Soft Skills Development
Soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are increasingly valued in the workplace. They aid in building and maintaining relationships, making decisions and navigating through daily tasks.
Product Training
For employees to discuss, sell or market your products confidently, they must understand them thoroughly. Product training equips the employees with essential knowledge about the product’s uses, benefits, and functionality.
Sales Training
Effective selling goes beyond basic communication skills. Polish your sales team’s techniques with sales training to meet targets and contribute to company revenues consistently.
Quality Assurance Training
In maintaining your company’s standards and reputation, quality is key. Quality assurance training ensures that all employees understand and adhere to the necessary quality standards, from production to service delivery.
Compliance Training
To understand the company’s rules, industry regulations and legal obligations, compliance training is a necessity. It helps guard against expensive and damaging breaches and penalties.
Data Privacy Training
With growing digitalization, securing data is vital. This training increases awareness about securing personal and corporate data and educates employees on the best practices to avoid breaches.
Online Training
Online training offers flexibility, accessibility, and the ability to learn at your own pace. It is available in various forms such as webinars, e-learning platforms, and educational videos.
Effective employee training programs like those at Amazon and Randstad U.S. have managed to extract maximum potential from their workforce, contributing to their success. Notably, the training programs are shaped by organizational goals and employees’ goals.
Multiple benefits accrue from employee training programs; improved performance, increased engagement and productivity, enhanced job satisfaction, and self-growth among employees. They are also instrumental in retaining talent and maintaining a motivated and productive workforce.
The success of employee training can be measured using post-training assessments, supervisor reports and feedback, and the achievement of performance KPIs. It is important to note, however, that while valuable, these programs do come at a cost. In the U.S., companies spent an average of approximately $1,071 per employee on training in 2021. This includes the cost of learning tools, instructors, content development, and assessments.
The key to creating effective employee training extends beyond the design and implementation of the program. It includes aligning learning programs with business plans, promoting a learning culture within the organization and taking deliberate steps to increase employee retention. Looking ahead to 2023, mentorships, employee well-being, and career development programs will be primary areas of focus in the evolving landscape of employee training.
In conclusion, successful organizations understand that their employees are their greatest assets. They invest in comprehensive and diverse training programs to equip their workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the organization’s objectives. By identifying the training needs, investing in the right programs and measuring their impact, you too can create an engaged, capable and productive workforce.