Employee training is a necessary and vital part of ensuring productivity and strong morale at any business. Employee training can be very beneficial yet companies often to waste time and money on training Through inattention to important considerations. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common problems and how to solve them in order to deliver successful employee training.
Large Group Size
Companies oftentimes try to save money by training several employees at the same time. However, it is challenging and unwieldy to have a highly effective training session with too many people. For example, it is difficult to lead a productive group discussion with 100 people. Instead, training sessions that are organized for 16 people, or less , a provide more opportunities for everyone to be actively engaged.
Failure to Identify the Learner’s Specific Needs
The purpose of any training program is to equip employees with the knowledge and skills that will be needed to complete their tasks at work. A quality training session is defined by what the participants can do after training. , Planners need to decide on a clear outcome for participants and facilitators need create a training program that will best accomplish the desired learning outcome.
Using Complicated Material
Facilitators need to remember that just because they are familiar with the material that their participants are not. Chances are the participants are seeing this material for the first time so it is important that the information is delivered in a clear and concise manner. When the material is too complicated, the participants lose interest and become frustrated. This can be avoided by testing the material on several small groups. Adjustments can be made where needed before developing the final version.
Lack of Interactive Exercises
Training that is presented as a lecture might as well not take place. The fastest way to lose an audience and bore participants is to lecture them. Not only is this incredibly tedious and boring, but it is highly ineffective. Participants learn by doing and need to be actively engaged in the learning process. This can be achieved through role-play, group discussions, hands-on practice, reflection and partners work. Wise facilitators will lead the group in various simulations, hand-on approaches, group discussions, and active training activities.
Poor Environment
Believe it or not the physical environment of the training can have a significant impact on its success. A room that is too hot or too cold can be distracting for participants. Also, make sure there is comfortable seating and limited noise distractions such as outside traffic or a squeaking air conditioner. Finally, offer healthy refreshments and create an environment that is suitable for learning.
Employee training issues are a common problem for many companies but many of these issues can be easily fixed. By analyzing the problems and avoiding these common mistakes, companies can ensure that their training programs are efficient, productive, and useful for employees.