Employee training is incredibly important. Numerous studies have shown that organizations which invest in training reap the rewards with higher productivity and profits. It also ensures that your staff are more engaged and less frustrated at work.
However, while staff training is seen as a strategic priority by 35% of senior HR staff, almost half of US companies do not have any formal training strategies in place. What is more, much modern is failing to train employees effectively.
Here are 10 of the top pain points when it comes to training your employees.
Do you recognize any of them?
Here are some of the biggest pain points that organizations experience when it comes to employee training:
1. No real-world application
Have you ever been to a training session on topics like compliance or health and safety which seems to have no bearing on your day-to-day work? A challenge with so much employee training is that it is very difficult to apply in the real world. Of course, it is sometimes essential to understand the theory, but in other cases you just need to learn how to do specific tasks correctly.
2. Not relevant
Did you know that only 12% of employees say they use skills learned from training in their jobs? Many employees struggle with business training because it is simply not relevant. They often find themselves learning how to do things which only serve the needs of a handful of staff. It would therefore be preferable to only provide training when people actually need it. Don’t bombard them with information they’ll never use.
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3. The forgetting curve
We have written about the forgetting curve before. Within just 24 hours of traditional classroom-based employee training sessions ending, most people will have forgotten around half of what they have learned. A more effective approach is to offer training when people are struggling so that they can implement that learning right away.
4. One size fits all
We are working in multi-generational, multicultural workforces, yet most training today takes a ‘one size fits all’ model. Regardless of experience, knowledge or background, everyone receives the same training – it is therefore no surprise that 62% of HR managers do not believe training meets learners’ needs. For some people training is so basic it is pointless, while for others it is far too advanced.
5. Lack of learning culture
A learning culture is one where employees do not simply learn when they are asked to complete mandatory training sessions. Instead, it is a mindset that is distributed across the business where everybody shares knowledge and is continually updating their skills using new resources whenever needed. This can be supported through the provision of always-on learning modules which people can access whenever they are looking to find out how to do something.
6. Content creation is time-consuming
Training hundreds or even thousands of employees how to comply with new legislation, use business technology or develop interpersonal skills requires you to develop extensive of training content. Creating day-long courses then getting everybody into a room to learn is incredibly time consuming. A more effective alternative would be to generate more learning online that is distributed in bitesize modules. It takes far less time to update smaller digital training resource than it is to create lengthy in-person classes.
7. Low motivation and participation
Let’s face it, business training sessions are not always the most exciting events. This means that when employees attend training sessions, many will fail to engage fully with what you are teaching them. Once again this is where small, accessible learning modules that are delivered in a more diffuse manner can be really beneficial. This kind of training keeps people’s attentions long enough to convey the message without leaving them distracted.
8. Relies on passive learning
Much modern business training sees employees sit through presentations or videos which they must passively absorb. Unfortunately, this kind learning rarely sinks in. The best training is that which requires people to immediately implement the learning. This means that it will become almost like muscle memory as they apply new knowledge right away.
9. Lack of time
Your employees are busy. If they have deadlines to meet or other pressures at work, many will simply skip training altogether. This is a serious problem especially when it comes to obligatory training around things like compliance and regulations. It is essential to find a way to deliver important messages and guarantee that people have read them. Digital solutions such as pop ups in your workplace intranet or other online environment is a good place to start.
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10. Inappropriate in an era of remote working
With more employees working remotely than ever, delivering your training through in-person classroom sessions is simply not appropriate (and may even be illegal). Some, if not all, training should be made available online where it can be accessed anytime that people wish to learn.
VisualSP provides a suite of tools that you can use to deliver online training around compliance, health and safety and technology to your employees. These tools resolve many of the pain points described above:
To learn more about how you can use VisualSP to address your training pain points, schedule a demo today.
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