10 December 2020

The importance of training employees

What does employee training and development mean to you? Is it a way to keep up with competitors, keep employees happy or keep on top of industry trends? Is this something your team completes rarely or do you have a schedule to ensure everyone gets development time?

The importance of training employees is a big topic whereby many businesses differ in opinion. Putting time and potentially money aside can be off-putting for some companies if they are concerned it won’t be a good investment. In today’s blog on the importance of training employees, we will be discussing all the reasons why we think that training staff members results in increased productivity and a better overall work environment.

The importance of training and development in the workplace

Investment in training is an investment in your company which has huge benefits when done correctly.

Here are some of the benefits of training your employees:

Improved performance

Increased employee performance and productivity are one of the most significant benefits to employee training. You want to arm your team with significant knowledge and understanding to complete relevant tasks with ease and skill.

Not only will these mean a better quality of work, but it will boost your employee’s confidence in the tasks they are completing, meaning they feel more satisfied in their job role. Some businesses are put off by the idea of staff training as it means an investment in time and money, but the truth is this will improve the quality of work in the future. Ensuring every employee is properly trained means the job will be completed correctly the first time, reducing the need for company time being invested in correcting things.

Boosted morale

Demonstrating to your employees that you are invested in their career development plan and are providing your team with development initiatives is vital to keep morale consistent. Nobody wants to feel stagnant in their career, and training means your employees can expand their skills and knowledge. Not only will this make them better-performing employees, but your team feel more appreciated and supported within the workplace.

It also means time spent away from their usual tasks. A break in routine is a refreshing experience that promotes creativity and boosts morale. Fast turnover in a company can seriously damage performance and reputation. Rehiring and training employees can be time-consuming and costly, with the organisation of the company quickly coming out of balance.

More responsibility

Giving an employee more responsibility is a valuable way of boosting their interest and engagement. Not only does it demonstrate you trust their skill and judgement, but it gives them a goal to focus on. Corporate training and development programs ensure the individual is prepared for the additional tasks and responsibilities they will be taking on. Not only is this a great way to motivate employees, but it also takes some pressure away from the management team improving company culture.

Better client relationships

A big part of many corporate jobs is interacting with clients and keeping them happy. A satisfied client means loyalty and continued business.

Ensuring your employees are fully trained and competent to deal with any request made is vital. This builds a strong rapport with the client bringing better business prospects. Keeping employees on long term means they can continue to strengthen the relationships with clients. A fast turnaround sends the wrong message.

Encourages innovation

In any company, employees should always be on the lookout for a more efficient way to do things. This could be anything from a new software used through to reducing activity’s which aren’t productive to the business, such as unnecessary meetings. Employee training gives the individual the knowledge and skills to be more creative and innovative in their job role, recognising challenges and identifying how these can be overcome in a more efficient way.

Types of employee training

Once you have recognised you want an employee to complete some training, you need to decide the type of training which will be most suitable. Different employees learn in different ways which is why training is important as it allows you to understand the best ways for your team to retain information and progress their skills. Equally, different kinds of corporate training programs are valuable to develop different skills engaging employees resulting in job satisfaction.

The main types of employee training include:

e-Learning

e-Learning of any kind is convenient because it can essentially be completed from anywhere. Simply log in and interact with the course. e-Learning tends to be inexpensive and eliminates the need for travel.

We would recommend that employees complete any kind of online training in a separate room, away from their desk. This allows them to differentiate between development time and completing tasks and ensures they are free from any distraction.

On the job training

On the job training is common with internships and apprenticeships, whereby a more senior member takes control of the training. The individual will learn by completing tasks and having them reviewed by their peers.

This is a valuable method of training which means the employee has a full understanding of their job role, ensuring they are experienced in a variety of aspects. A drawback of on the job training is that it can be time-consuming for the member of staff training and reviewing work, so this should only be taken on if company time allows.

Offsite training

Offsite training involves travelling away from the workplace, often to a dedicated facility or centre. Companies can book their employees into training days where they get the opportunity to work with a lecturer, network with others in the industry and learn some new skills.

This can be highly beneficial for employees as they are learning and developing a controlled environment, away from distraction. However, this can be costly and take significant time in the day, so always review the effectiveness of offsite training and how it can benefit your company. Yarnfield Park is a popular offsite training centre in the Midlands, perfect for nationwide companies that need a central location for their event.

Team training

Team training or team building is an important part of any workplace. It improves employee communication and problem-solving skills, enhancing harmony within the office. This allows the team to overcome challenges and work together more effectively.

The valuable thing about team building is it can be completed anywhere, with many tasks taking as little as 20 minutes. This can be completed as a warm-up on a Monday morning or a great way to finish a Friday.

The importance of corporate training for employees conclusion

Whether you’re a business owner or employee, we hope our blog on the importance of training employees has given you some food for thought. Investing time and money into your employee development will inevitably lead to increased productivity and business progression. If you’re looking for an offsite venue to host effective training for your employees, look no further than Yarnfield Park. Our leading national training centre is located in the Midlands, making it easily accessible from anywhere in the country.

We have experience in hosting both smaller and large training events, with our largest theatre-style conference room holding up to 450 delegates. We offer a comprehensive technical package including twin projectors and microphones, large staging to accommodate multiple speakers and equipment and superfast Wi-Fi for hybrid events and access to cloud-based training materials. For further information or to make an enquiry, get in touch with our team today.

The importance of training employees