Employee Training Programs: Types and Benefits

Investing in workplace training only benefits the company. The sooner companies understand and work their way around this, the faster they will reach their organizational goals. With technological advancement happening all over the world, employees expect their organization to help them keep up with the current ongoing tech trends by providing them with informative employee training programs.

Some of the diverse types of employee training methods help enhance various skills for employees to improve their performance and rate of productivity, as well as upskilling and reskilling them to prepare for the future.

What is a Training Program for Employees?

A training program for employees is a planned, combination of activities designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills making them better professionals. Employee training programs differ from one another to achieve specific business objectives. Depending on the purpose, there are various training programs for employees.

List of Training and Development Programs for Employee’s Development

The importance of training programs for employees is to equip team member with valuable skills that can support the company’s larger business goals. There are several effective employee training programs that can be implemented in organizations to better equip employees with the necessary skills and resources.

Some of the diverse types of training programs for employees that should be included in companies are-

Orientation Training

It is the training given to new hires upon joining the company. The aim of the orientation training program is to welcome the new employees, introduce them to the company and help them have a smooth transition into the organization. The Orientation training program is handled by the HR (Human Resources) department and some of the topics that are focussed on are-

• Company’s value and mission ‘
• Company culture
• Paperwork
• Administrative procedures
• Corporate policies

Onboarding Training

Onboarding training is a lengthy process (takes up to a year) where employees obtain the skills to become effective at the new workplace to contribute effectively towards organisational objectives.

With the onboarding training, employees-

• Are effectively integrated into the culture and the team
• Stay Productive and engaged.
• Are bought up to speed about the company culture and working

Compliance Training

Compliance training is needed in some departments for more specific training. It educates employees on the laws and regulations that help maintain the safety of the workplace and prevent misconduct from fellow employees in the industry.

Some of the examples of a compliance training are-

• Workplace safety (OSHA)
• HR Law
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
• Workplace Safety and Violence
• Information Security Training (HIPPA)
• Anti- Harassment Training

Product Training

This is a form of training given in product-based companies that sell their products. A brief training is given to new hires in the first week of joining and existing employees are trained as and when there is a new product launched. It is a training given to help employees understand the benefits and features of the product thoroughly and sell it confidently to the customers by answering any questions they may have.

A ton of content is needed for this training. The training can be fully offline, face-to-face, online learning, blended learning. The mode of training depends on the company’s need.

Leadership Training

A training that is given to managers to improve their ability to better inspire and motivate their employees to achieve greater results.

• A good leadership training can
• Increase employee engagement
• Improver leadership styles
• Help learn better ways to influence people
• Build a strong and united team
• Help interact effectively with other leaders
• Help implement leadership strategies

Technical Training

It is one of the most important forms of training given to employees to help them understand the technicality of their jobs and perform well. Technical training is a part of the onboarding training program, but if needed, can also be provided to existing employees to help them develop in their fields.

Technical skills such as Data analysis, content writing, social media management, coding etc are taught to employees.

Safety training

Safety training is provided in industries that involve physical labour. Safety training programs could include lockdown drills, fire prevention or other industry specific training. For example, food service companies provide food safety training.

Sales Training

It is a form of training given to the sales team members in an organization. It aims at boosting the skills of the sales team by teaching them sales practices and novel approaches to selling and developing excellent communication skills.

Soft-Skills Training

In previous discussions it has been established that soft skills are as important as technical skills to be adept at your jobs. Research even suggested that 75% of long-term job success depends more on people skills than technical skills. In Service industries, where soft skills are most needed, employees are given soft skills training to help them work better with the management as well as in customer service.

Ownership, conflict resolution, ethics, time management, adaptability, commitment are a few important soft skills that are crucial for all employees.

Benefits of Employee Training and Development Programs

Unlike the yesteryears, training and development programs for employees is given top priority in most companies today. Having the right employee training programs in place enables employees to be more productive, efficient, adaptable and nudges them to improve their soft and cognitive skills.

Company employee training programs can be beneficial for the employee and the organization.

Some of the major benefits of employee training programs are-

1. Improved Job Performance: Employees equipped with the required skills, knowledge, and tools perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently, leading to higher levels of productivity and better job outcomes.
2. Enhanced Employee Skills: Training programs helps employees develop new skills, nurture the existing ones, and stay up to date with the latest industry trends and technologies.
3. Increased Employee Engagement and retention Employee development programs demonstrates the organization values and commitment towards its workforce. This fosters a sense of commitment, loyalty, and motivation among employees leading to better levels of engagement, reduced attrition rates and greater job satisfaction.
4. Consistency and Standardization: Training ensures that all employees have a consistent understanding of company policies, procedures, and best practices, leading to a more uniform and high-quality work environment.
5. Improved Employee Morale: Training programs instils a sense of confidence in employees and pushes them to do better and take on new challenges. It boosts their self-esteem and overall morale.
6. Increased Innovation: Training programs expose employees to innovative ideas, perspectives, and problem-solving techniques, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity within the organization.
7. Leadership Development: Training can groom potential leaders within the organization and can help in succession planning as it ensures a pipeline of individuals ready to take on leadership roles when needed.
8. Improved Decision-Making: Training programs can provide employees with tools for better critical thinking and decision-making, leading to more informed and effective choices.
9. Increased Profitability: Through improved productivity, better customer service, and reduced errors, well-trained employees contribute to increased profitability for the organization.
10. Competitive Advantage: A skilled and knowledgeable workforce can give an organization a competitive edge, as employees are better equipped to drive innovation, deliver high-quality products or services, and adapt to market changes.

How to Conduct a Training Program for Employees?

To build a proper employee training program, not only do you need to assess and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your employees, but you need to be willing to go beyond to explore what you want your team to learn and how to implement it successfully.

So, how to plan a training program for employees?

Set related goals and build a structured program that can help your employees thrive in the company.

1. Assess your training Needs: Establish your goals as a business and determine the specific skills, knowledge, or competencies that need to be addressed through the training program. Some of the factors and aspects you can consider are-

• • The target audience for your training program
  • Short term and long-term goals
  • Goal period
  • Determining what the participants have learned.

2. Choose the type of training: Choose a training method that best suits you and your employees. Make sure your training methods align with your company objectives as well as the employees need. Your training methods could be-

• • group discussions
  • classroom style
  • Seminars
  • Skills based training
  • On the job training
  • Online
  • In-person
  • Self-paced
  • Instructor led training

3. Define learning objectives– Set clear, reasonable objectives. You need to be able to outline what participants should be able to do or achieve by the end of the training.
4. Develop a detailed Training Content: The training curriculum should include all the topics to be covered, learning materials, and resources needed. A detailed outline of the content is imperative to ensure a structured and organized approach.
5. Select the right Trainers/Facilitators: Choose experienced trainers or facilitators who are knowledgeable about the subject matter and skilled in delivering engaging and effective training sessions.
6. Deliver the Training: Follow these guidelines when the training program commences-

• • Start with an introduction, outlining the purpose and objectives of the training.
  • Present the content in a clear and organized manner,
  • Use interactive methods.
  • Encourage group discussions, activities, and exercises to promote engagement and reinforce learning.
  • Use real-life examples and case studies to make the content relatable.
  • Have a Q & A
  • Summarize key points and learning objectives at the end of each session.

7. Gather Feedback: Collect feedback from participants about the training program, including what worked well and areas for improvement. This feedback can help enhance future training initiatives.
8. Evaluate Learning Outcomes: Assess whether the training program met its objectives. Analyse participants’ performance, behaviour changes, and on-the-job application of the newly acquired skills and knowledge.

Need Help in Designing a Training Program for Employees?

Designing a training program for employees involves a systematic and thoughtful approach to ensure that the program effectively addresses the learning needs and goals of both the individuals and the organization. If you are looking for help to design an employee training program, we can help.

As a renowned and experienced HR consulting firm with an industry experience of over 26 years, Alp Consulting possesses the expertise and resources to create the best employee training programs that can add value to your organization and align perfectly with your business goals and objectives. Contact us today to know more about our services.

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