Training is the backbone of workplace success, safety, and performance which serve as the catalyst for employee skills improvement and development. Instituting a concrete and comprehensive workplace training program will provide any company with charted results and measurable success.
In addition to these precepts, a workplace training program raises and solidifies standards and also aids in quality assurance and best business practices. These initiatives often bolster productivity, efficiency and profitability.
Here are some valuable tips and steps to take when initiating and implementing a workplace training program:
Incorporate Pertinent and Necessary Topics
A premiere method to maximize workplace training, is to assure that the topics covered are pertinent and necessary. For example, EEOC, OSHA, Sexual Harassment and Diversity are required to be covered and addressed in every employment setting.
A brief seminar providing an overview of each of these items while addressing the important legal and ethical issues is a great framework to integrate new hires in the on-boarding process. In addition, this assures compliance and reduces liabilities in the long-term.
After these issues have been covered, safety awareness is the next biggest priority. Whether it be review of emergency response protocol or an in-depth survey of standard operating procedures, employee edification on safety practices is essential. This notion is exhaustively valid in industries that require the handling of hazardous materials or advanced machinery and technical equipment.
After the foundation has been set, training can then be instituted to cover a wide variety of topics and information.
To get the most out of any OSHA-related curriculum, OSHA has launched its own training website with a full catalog of OSHA’s resources available to employers everywhere.
Assure Retention
The best way to assure acquired skills are retained is through continuous training. It is imperative, to encourage and support employees that wish to evolve their abilities and retain their valuable and essential talents. Incentive-based training programs drive this concept. The textbook methodology is incentive-based performance that are complemented often by cash bonuses.
These incentives can range from perfect attendance to achieving and exceeding figures in projected analytics and prescribed metrics. The best way to drive employee performance is to encourage employees to do their best by rewarding them for their best efforts. Assure retention is fundamental through the implementation of continuous incentive-based programs that honor consistent top-performance, this is also a great way to enable personnel to master their strengths. Learn more on how to maximize any incentive-based training regime.
Automate Training
Computer-based training is a great way to save money and afford employees the opportunity to train further or review fundamental material. In addition, computer-based training is great for re-certification and compliance with regulatory standards such as OSHA. Automated training nullifies the need for a paid instructor to teach or review material that can be attained and mastered on an individual level. One-time installation of modules, software and/or applications on a computer unit is all that is often required.
Lynda.com has great training options for time management and productivity. Another great option is to purchase training software such as MIndflash or Lesson.ly, which is recommended for its flexibility, where companies can construct unique training courses tailored to your organizational needs.
Encourage Leadership Training
One of the most overlooked items in the workplace is leadership. While some can be assigned or promoted to leadership roles, many fail to lead effectively. It is important that leadership training is implemented in to company education regimes, the benefits are copious and can only improve management abilities and employee morale.
In addition to this, for organizations to continue to grow and involve, every company must invest in tomorrow, today. Leadership training is a fail-proof method to promote the progress of any company through the committed endeavor to develop future leaders and managers.
The Institute of Leadership and Management has established itself as a recognized pioneer of developing tomorrow’s leaders. There are varying membership levels, each equipped with distinct features which can serve essential to any hoping to grow their administrative abilities. This notion is not exclusive to individuals, but can also be translated to organizations hoping to expand their own leadership talents.
Employee Training Photo via Shutterstock
Aira Bongco
Developing our own training program has always been a problem in our university. But then, if you have enough contacts and enough potential attendees, it is possible. And if you’re training your employees, then you already have attendees right off the bat.
Awesome article! I like your focus on safety and basic workplace conduct. Would you recommend blended learning approaches?