Tips on Training your Talent

The economic uncertainty in recent years has had an adverse effect on staff training; companies have reduced training due to time constraints, and in a bid to keep costs low.

However, recently we have seen things beginning to improve. Companies are realising that training their talent can help increase productivity, build employee morale, and can improve brand image.

The use of modern technology has also augmented training capabilities for companies, with online training, mobile training apps, and individual learning schedules, there are now many methods for training your workforce in unique, and cost efficient ways.

The following information will help you make the right choices in training your talent, and highlight the benefit that employees, and employers will receive.

• In-Person Vs Online Training

There are definite benefits to in-person training that cannot be overstated. Your staff will have the opportunity to interact with their instructor, asking questions, concreting their learning, and evolving their knowledge through cooperation with other employees, and the instructor. Some research has shown that employees prefer in-person training, and believe that it helped them retain the information learnt during training.

Online training (or e-learning) has advantages over in-person training as it is more flexible. It can be used at any time, employees can access online resources at any point after training, it can keep costs low for employers, and it is easy to track learners’ progress.

However, incorporating a mixture of both in-person and online training can offer a huge boost to learning outcomes, with the ability for staff to gain greater insight during training, and also access information for reference at a later date as necessary.

• Real Experience Training

Many of us learn best through experience. We can understand what is being taught, apply new methods in practice, and boost our confidence through performance of the task at hand.

However, there are those of us that feel pressured when being ‘watched’ by instructors, so before instigating this type of training it is worth considering how this can be applied in the workplace, so that it won’t place trainees under undue pressure to perform.

When possible allow employees to experiment with new techniques and skills in a controlled environment where fear of mistakes is easily overcome, and allow them to build their self-confidence within safe training methods.

• Mobile Training Apps

The recent trend in flexible working patterns seems set to increase, with an estimated 58% of British workers offered flexible benefits in 2017, according to powwownow.

This flexible method of working also calls for flexible training methods – not all employees will be at the office at the same time.

Mobile training apps offer complete flexibility to be accessed anywhere, anytime. They can ensure employees are up to date with latest information, and technology, and if training is completed outside of office hours then it can save work time lost to training.

Employers, and learners, can gain an overview of progress, check development, and completed training via the app.

• Setting the Pace for Learning

Formulating training that allows learners to work at their own pace can be tricky, but not impossible. If the pace is set the same for each learner there will be some who will struggle to keep up, and others that need to slow down.
Employees can feel rushed through complicated topics, denied time to process valuable information, and are often less engaged when working to a strict time scale.

However, by allowing learners to set their own pace training can be tailored to each individual, and their learning outcomes will be improved.

A study by the Harvard Business School in 2015, found that participants who were given time to stop and reflect on a task they had learned, had significantly greater performance than those who did not stop for reflection.

Processing what we have been taught is an important factor in successful learning, giving employees the opportunity to set their own pace will allow for this processing, meaning learning will be reinforced, more successful, and valued.

Some training platforms allow for learner forums, and reviews to take place while training. Learners can reflect on what they have been taught, share their input with others, and it can make learning more engaging.

Many of the issues businesses have with training can be solved through choosing the right type of training for employees, rather than for the company itself.

With the myriad of options now available for flexible learning, e-learning, and the availability of online resources, it is far easier to accommodate individual learners than before.

Remember, that the benefits of training, for both workers and employers, make training a necessity, rather than a worthless endeavour.