4 Foolproof Ways To Get The Most Out Of Staff Training
As successful people in business, many of us have had to make tough financial decisions. One tough decision is whether or not to invest in staff training. Training can be expensive, so it’s important that we make sure that we get a return on our investment. Having said this, some people do not know the basics of effective staff training. So here are a few pointers.
Get Experienced Workers Involved
The people who have worked in your business the longest will know it the best. They’ll be aware of all the little idiosyncratic issues that make your business unique, as well as the requirements of the wider industry. Because the workforce is changing all the time, it’s important that you get these more experienced workers to share their knowledge. For one, you don’t have to pay directly for training. All you lose is a small amount of worker productivity. But in return, you gain a new colleague, fully versed in the intricacies of your business.
You don’t have to make the learning intense. Perhaps you could organise monthly peer-to-peer training, teaching new recruits some of the tricks of the trade. This way you can widely disseminate knowledge at low cost.
Invest In Outside Trainers Wisely
When considering hiring somebody to do training, you need to make sure that their training will provide a positive return. So just like any other investment, improvements in the long-term productivity of the workforce has to exceed what you pay up front.
Of course, this implies that you want only to choose those courses you believe will actually meet your goals. Perhaps safety at your work is an issue for your company. If there have been regular accidents, measure the cost of these accidents. How much money would be saved if accidents had not occurred? And what might future accidents cost your business?
Or perhaps there are exacting standards in your industry. Perhaps you manufacture pharmaceutical equipment and need to ensure that the highest standards are met. ISO 13485 training can ensure that your employees are aware of the design standards required for medical equipment.
Training On The Job
One thing that really accelerates learning is having a goal in mind. When somebody works towards a goal they learn as a byproduct of that process. And because learning is secondary to that ultimate goal, learning has an immediate purpose. If there’s one thing that’s important for learning, it’s having a reason to do it.
What’s more, learning on the job means that you achieve two things you couldn’t ordinarily achieve through training. One – your employee is trained in a precise process. Two – you end up with something to show for it.
Review What Has Been Learned
Lastly, it’s worth finding out what employees have learned from their training. Ask questions like, what was the point of the training exercise? If they’re able to give an answer, it shows that they recognise that the training had a goal. And if the training had a goal, it’s more likely that they learned something.
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