10 Things I Know About ... Corporate training
10. Adapting and changing are musts. Failure to up-skill your employees in the latest technologies and business-related topics, such as compliance, leadership and security will leave your company vulnerable to external threats.
9. Plan in reverse. Approach your learning programs with a specific goal in mind, whether it's improved customer satisfaction, fewer product support calls, or improved productivity and functionality. Then, plan how you'll get there and how you'll measure results.
8. Training is never static. Consistently offer diverse learning opportunities, then reinforce the skills learned. Those are key success factors.
7. Instructor-led training (ILT) is alive and well. ILT provides the interactivity needed to foster knowledge transfer between instructor and student. For corporate-wide learning initiatives, blended approaches (ILT plus virtual or e-learning) are effective options.
6. Training matters in any economy. During downturns, training is often first in line for budget cuts. Employers who invest in contract trainers in weaker economies tend to fare better than those who don't and are ultimately better positioned for an economic recovery. Employees who remain after a layoff need to acquire new skills to stay ahead of the curve.
5. Get the level right. In many cases, training is not “one size fits all.” Determine everyone's learning needs, then provide group training by level (basic, intermediate, or advanced).
4. Make courseware relevant. Consult with a subject-matter expert on courseware to align with your goals. When possible, customize content and labs for better relevance to learners' needs and job functions.
3. You can stay within budget. Bringing trainers into your facility only when you need them. It's a cost-effective way to offer more training to more students.
2. Morale boosts Offering learning opportunities demonstrates your commitment to employees' growth and development, which will lead to lower employee turnover and greater productivity.
1. Just start! Start simply with one trainer for a day. Making the commitment to develop your employees will yield long-term results for your company. n
(Keith Lippert is director of marketing communications at The Training Associates, a Westborough-based provider of IT and professional business skills training. Contact him at klippert@ttacorp.com.)
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments