5 best training methods for employees that actually work

As an employer, providing training opportunities for your employees is one of the most valuable things you can do. In terms of the company, upskilling staff allows them to complete a wider range of tasks, or to excel at what they’re already doing. No one wants to feel static in their job role. Training employees in the workplace provides these opportunities to learn and develop which allows your team to feel they are developing and progressing over time. Not only is this valuable for business operations, but these initiatives are excellent for morale. They demonstrate you are investing time and money into an individual, and are interested in their personal development. This recognition from employees can also keep retention levels down. According to a national survey of over 400 employees, 70% of the respondents indicated that job-related training and development opportunities influenced their decision to stay at their job. In today’s blog, we will be exploring some different training methods for employees and which ones will suit your workforce.

Training in any capacity tends to increase innovation among employees. This provides the opportunity to see things in a different way, promoting out of the box thinking. New ways of looking at tasks, projects and problems often result in a more effective way of doing something. This outcome may come from some training or learning your employee completed. Personal development also decreases staff turnover as the team see future prospects in your company, increasing the feeling of loyalty. Staff training involves investing time and sometimes money but can have significant benefit to the company in the long run.

Training techniques for employees

Training methods for employees come in a variety of different styles. Deciding on the optimal choice all depends on the nature of your business, the demographic and the type of learning. Some forms of training may fall flat on different demographics or be irrelevant for the type of training needed. Speak to your team and see which sort of learners they are. If you are learning as a group, see if there is anything you can do to make it more effective for different individuals. Your continued investment in your teams learning demonstrates a passion for your team which leads to higher levels of engagement and boosts job satisfaction. Engaged and well trained employees are also less likely to make mistakes. As mentioned in Work Valley’s Employment Engagement Statistics, it is 60% more likely for disengaged employees to make an error.

e-Learning

With technology expanding and getting more advanced every day, e-Learning is the most obvious training methods for employees. It can be completed anywhere and if the session isn’t live, it can be scheduled into the workday at convenient times. e-Learning takes a range of forms including webinars, videos and online courses. The internet is full of free resources from Youtube through to Reddit, where employees have the opportunity to develop their skills and read-up on relevant topics. Alternatively, courses can be found online for a relatively cheap price, and more than one employee can use this resource. According to Digits LMS who conducted a survey in January 2022, of 2000 UK adults, 28% of people in the UK say that ‘an online course’ is their preferred method of learning.

e-Learning is valuable because it’s such a convenient way of learning. However, there are some drawbacks. Learning through a video as opposed to a physical course promotes more distractions. It’s so easy to flip to another tab or become distracted by emails. Learning within the workplace, surrounded by colleagues, noise and disturbances means you may not be as focused. If e-Learning is taking place, the employee needs to be in a good learning environment such as a separate break out space or meeting room. This ensures they are getting the most from their course. Active note-taking and teaching other employers the skills learnt after the lesson are both valuable ways of ensuring the material is retained.

Offsite training

Offsite training involves sending your employees to a physical course or specific location to learn. This often means they will be learning with a group of other individuals in instructor led classroom training. Learning the material from someone face to face who can answer questions and provide relevant examples is really helpful. They can provide expert information and advice on the topic. Learning away from your usual work environment is a valuable way to promote focus and ensure the training is well-received.

The obvious draw-back to offsite training is that it involves taking time from the employees workday to attend the course. Depending on the location of the training, you will have to cover travel costs and allocate time to go. This may not be suitable if only one member of the team is attending, but if a group is going, it would be useful for them to travel together and learn away from the usual workplace.

On the job

On the job training can take place in the usual workplace and doesn’t tend to need extra resources. It involves a combination of job shadowing, observing and hands-on training to develop skills. This is common with apprentices and new employees who need to learn a lot in a shorter space of time on a training program. This method of training tends to be really effective as you are using different types of learning to achieve your goal. This is a valuable way of teaching employees how to use relevant tools and equipment to complete tasks, instead of simply learning the theory. Giving apprentices a positive learning experience also means they will be an asset to the company when they graduate. It’s a chance to mould an employee with all the positive habits and skills which you would want in the workplace.

This style of training is effective but can be time-consuming for other employees who will need to spend time demonstrating, answering questions and observing. On the job training can really only be completed when the company know they have enough spare time to accommodate. In the long-run, this method does tend to produce skilled employees who are effectively trained with a wide knowledge base, so if you have the manpower it works really well. We would recommend the task of training to be spread across the team to ensure the employer has different learning experiences and develops different skills. This way of working allows the employee to manage real work situations effectively.

Hands-on training

Hands-on training is many peoples preferred method of learning, as you can develop your knowledge with practical skills instead of theory. This provides a “sandbox” environment where the employee can try new things under the supervision of someone experienced. This method tends to deliver a strong ROI as the material learnt is retained and the learner understands how to use the skills within the job they are doing. Engagement tends to be high with hands-on training as employees are stimulated by the new experience and are able to contribute and ask questions as they go.

Again, the issue with hands-on training is that it tends to be very time consuming for other employees. Someone needs to be available to supervise and/or check work which is being produced. They also need to be on hand to answer any questions they may have. In the long-term, hands-on training is beneficial for the company and the employee who has a full scope understanding of their role. It all depends on company time and workforce.

Interactive-led training

Interactive led training is an enjoyable way of learning which proves very effective with employees. This can be anything from quizzes and games to role-playing scenarios. This is particularly powerful for HR and management training, whereby a scene can be created and the learner practises how to respond. This is valuable for things like conflict resolution where the learner can apply their skills in real-life scenarios.

Interactive-led training is really useful but is another method which can be time-consuming. It also requires someone who knows what they are doing to lead the scene and provide helpful feedback. If you don’t have the appropriate person within the company, you will need to hire an external party to complete this training. Overall, if a company has the budget and time to complete this, it’s a valuable way of training which allows employees to develop a strong skillset in the chosen subject.

Training methods for employees conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our blog on training methods for employees. Here is a summary of what we’ve discussed:

e-Learning
Offsite training
On the job
Hands-on training
Interactive-led training

All of these approaches are really effective when used in the right context. Blended learning is a valuable way of combining all these methods. You can develop skills using both electronic media and face to face learning. In an ideal world, employees should have a set time each month to work on personal development. This should be a mixture of what they want to advance on and what the company needs or recommends. In the long run, employee training promotes happiness and morale throughout the workforce, not to mention more skilled employees.

If you’re looking for local training facilities in Swindon, Alexandra House provides modern spaces with all the tools and equipment you need to learn. Located near the city centre of Swindon, these are perfect for courses, seminars, conferences and even services offices. We have 14 unique classrooms available so you can find something to suit the needs of your business and employees. Our superfast Wi-Fi and AV technology make presenting and learning easy. Alexandra House also boasts 20 acres of outdoor space for team building events to strengthen employee bonds. If you are interested in booking a training venue, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.

5 best training methods for employees that actually work