Developing an effective training program is vital to the success of any organization. Building the competence and confidence of employees is not a simple task and it does not end with conducting one or two workshops or making available some e-learning courses. There are five major factors that one needs to keep in mind while conducting a training program. They are:
Creating sticky content: It is essential to use contemporary and engaging content so that employees are able to relate to it with enthusiasm. While the content itself will be determined by the objectives of the training program, it should also be based on real-world scenarios and provided in the right context. When employees do not have the right context for learning, then the training program will falter. Multimedia tools come in handy for making training a fun learning exercise.
Forming manageable learning groups: It is imperative that the individuals/groups likely to benefit from the training be identified first. Divide the entire group into smaller more manageable groups so that the ultimate aim of learning is achieved without compromising on quality for anyone. Another thing to note is that it is best to compartmentalize the participants by what they are learning and how it relates to their jobs.
Selecting the right corporate trainer: Designing your own training courses can be very time-consuming. A better strategy would be to select the right corporate training partner who understands your needs and is able to customize the courses to suit the employee profile and the business vision of your organization. When selecting the right partner, weightage needs to be given to the purpose and value of such training, its objectives and its intended outcomes rather than shortlisting them based on cost.
Training Methodology: Selecting the right methodology based on the audience and the training outcome is very important. Workshops and activity- based training where the trainees participate actively are much more effective as opposed to monologues from the trainer. Working professionals today , particularly those of the millennial generation, do not want prescriptions and sermons dished out to them. They would like to discover solutions from experiential learning. While technology has impacted the way training is delivered in today’s world, particularly with the use of gaming , methods such as theatre- based training are also creating good if not high impact. Here , the trainer in the form of a dynamic and creative human facilitator triggers new feeling and thinking through deeply impacting experiential activities.
Timing of the program: This is also very important. Everyone from the trainer to the participant have time constraints. If the program is held on a weekend or holiday, then the participants may be less likely to pay attention. However this is often unavoidable due to the production pressures. Such weekend programs could be interspersed with fun making the training program more amenable.
These are some of the factors that you need to consider while planning your organizational training. Training can be made a productive experience for all involved if you make an effort to look beyond the logistics. It can actually become one of the top drivers of engagement in your organization.
