Ever wonder why you see some companies popping out while others struggle to keep up? One major factor is employee training. Investing in your team’s development is a necessity for success, not just today, but in the future. According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report, a whopping 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development. If you want to hang on to your employees, you have to help them thrive.
Simply put, in the age of AI and automation, the most valuable asset a company has is its people. But like any asset, people need to be nurtured and cared for to reach their full potential. Surprise! That’s where employee training comes in.
Here, we’re cracking the code: we’ll explore the why, what, and how, and explain once and for all why employee training is so important.
- The role of employee training
- Advantages of employee training
- Employee benefits from training
- Employee training use cases
- Employee training myths
- How to implement effective employee training
- Free employee training software demo
The role of training in a modern workplace
The world is changing at a breakneck pace, and the skills that were once considered essential are quickly becoming obsolete. Shiny new technologies, changing customer demands, and evolving business models require a workforce that is constantly learning and adapting. Employee training provides a way for employees to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to stay relevant and ahead of the game.
The World Economic Forum estimates that over half of all employees will need significant reskilling and upskilling due to technological advancements. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of skills! What’s more, investing in employee education demonstrates to your team that you truly value their growth and development. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, motivation, and engagement, which in turn translates to higher productivity and better performance.
Advantages of employee training for companies
Investing in employee training offers a multitude of benefits for organizations! Some of the most significant are:
Improved employee performance and productivity:
Remember the last time you tried to assemble furniture with those cryptic instructions? Frustrating, right? Well, your employees might feel the same way when they lack the proper training to do their jobs effectively. By giving them the knowledge and skills they need from the jump, you’re essentially offering a clear roadmap to success. This means they can work faster, smarter, and with greater accuracy—which means increased performance and productivity, not to mention a healthier bottom line.
In fact, the Association for Talent Development (ATD) found that companies that offer comprehensive training programs have 218% higher income per employee than companies without formalized training. That’s a lot of extra zeros in your bank account!
Enhanced innovation and adaptability to market changes
Change is the only constant. A skilled and well-trained workforce should be like a chameleon, able to adapt to new environments and challenges with ease. They can identify new opportunities, develop innovative products and services, and find creative solutions to problems that might leave others scratching their heads.
Reduced turnover and associated costs
Losing an employee is like losing a puzzle piece; it disrupts the whole picture! It costs money to recruit and train new employees, and it can also damage morale and productivity. Investing in a solid employee training program proves to your team that you value their loyalty and their potential. You create a more engaging and rewarding workplace, resulting in lower turnover rates and better employee retention overall.
A Gallup study shows that engaged employees are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable. And further research finds that companies with highly engaged people see an 81% difference in absenteeism. Who wouldn’t want a team that’s happy, healthy, and here to stay?
Upgraded compliance and risk management
Nobody wants to be on the wrong side of the law, especially when it comes to workplace safety. Employee training can help ensure that your team is up-to-date on the latest rules and regulations, reducing the risk of sky-high fines and legal penalties. It’s basically an insurance policy for your business—and while it might not be the most exciting thing to invest in, it can save you a lot of headaches (and money!) in the long run.
Benefits of employee training for employees
When it comes to employee training, it’s not just the company reaping all the benefits; oh no, it also has numerous advantages for employees themselves, including:
- Increased job satisfaction and morale: When employees feel that their company is investing in their development, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and motivated to perform at their best. Recognized employees are also more likely to champion your company’s mission and become ambassadors for your brand.
- Better career development opportunities: By acquiring new skills and knowledge, employees can open up fresh career paths and opportunities for moving up (and not moving on).
- More confidence in job roles: Solid training can help employees build confidence in their abilities, which can lead to better performance and a greater sense of accomplishment.
Employee training as a strategic investment
It might be tempting to think of employee training as just another business expense. But really, it’s like a savings account for your company’s future— a super-smart investment that will pay dividends down the road. Employee training programs give your team a toolbox filled with the latest and greatest skills. With the right tools in hand, they can build amazing things, solve problems faster, and adapt to new situations with greater ease and resiliency.
You don’t have to take our word for it—check out these real-world examples:
Anjuna Airline Solutions tracks training better
Anjuna Airline Solutions used Learn365 to create a comprehensive compliance training program that ensured they adhere to regulations in all the countries they work in. The program focused on HR policies, cybersecurity, and other compliance areas to keep everyone informed and safe. Anjuna’s CEO, Patrick Stepanek, found it easy and straightforward to add and manage content, see how everyone was doing, and build robust reports. The best part? Being able to track employee learning and prove to Anjuna customers that they’re following all the rules. You could say they gave their team a first-class ticket to success!
Andrade Gutierrez empowers course exploration
Andrade Gutierrez, a multinational engineering and construction company, also gave their team a strong foundation to build upon. Originally, employees couldn’t find courses easily and had problems creating and uploading content. They switched from their clunky LMS to Learn365, and now, they have a user-friendly system for engineering training, everything’s in one place, and it’s super easy to find courses and materials through SharePoint. With an average of 976 active users, Andrade Gutierrez is looking to expand the integration to more Microsoft tools.
Bossard saves time with AI
Bossard‘s training used to be all over the place and not very efficient. But then they got Learn365, which finally gave them a central hub for everything training-related. They organized a structured and transparent learning environment right in Microsoft Teams, and the AI features were another major timesaver, slashing their quiz-creation efforts by 60-70%! Overall, Learn365 has empowered Bossard employees to collaborate seamlessly and master their roles.
Like these companies can attest, employee training helps you build a high-performing, competitive workforce that’s ready to embrace whatever challenges the future may bring. So, why not give your team the tools and resources they need to succeed? It’s an investment you won’t regret.
Common misconceptions about employee training
We get it. Change can be scary, and investing in an employee training system might seem like a risky leap of faith. But hold on there! Before you dismiss training as “too expensive,” “too time-consuming,” or (gasp!) “ineffective,” let’s debunk some common misconceptions that are holding you back…and why these training excuses just don’t fly.
Employee training myth #1: Training is too expensive (aka “We’re on a tight budget”)
We all know the saying, “You gotta spend money to make money.” And when it comes to employee training, this couldn’t be truer. While there’s no denying that training programs require an initial investment, consider it as planting seeds for a bountiful harvest. A study by IBM found that every dollar invested in online training results in $30 in productivity gains. That’s a 3,000% return on investment! Who wouldn’t want to invest in a stock with those kinds of returns?
Employee training myth #2: Training takes too much time away from work (aka “Ain’t nobody got time for that”)
We’re all busy, busy bees, buzzing around from meeting to meeting and deadline to deadline. But effective training programs can actually save you time when all is said and done. Employee training will take a few minutes upfront, but it ultimately makes the rest of the job much easier and faster. With the rise of microlearning and on-demand training, employees can learn in bite-sized chunks, fitting training into their busy schedules. It’s like squeezing in a quick workout, but for your brain.
Employee training myth #3: Employees won’t use what they learn (aka “What’s the point?”)
Have you ever met someone who actually wants to waste time on training that’s irrelevant or boring? We didn’t think so. The good news is: engaging and relevant training that meets the needs of your employees is far more likely to stick. To maximize the impact even further, take the extra step to make sure your employee training is aligned with broader business goals and individual needs.
No more excuses! To overcome these misconceptions, it’s important to communicate the value of employee training to stakeholders and show just how it can benefit the organization as a whole.
How to implementing effective employee training
Hopefully we’ve convinced you that employee training is the way to go, and now you’re officially on board. Great! But where do you even begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a training program that’s as effective as it is engaging:
- Do your homework: Before you dive headfirst into employee training, take a step back and assess the needs of your organization and your people. What skills and knowledge do they need to excel in their roles? What are the gaps in their current skill sets? Much like a doctor’s visit, you need to diagnose the problem before you can prescribe the cure.
- Know your destination: What do you want to achieve with your training program? What are the specific outcomes you hope to see (a boost in productivity, improved customer satisfaction, more innovation)? Setting clear objectives will help you stay focused and measure your success.
- Spice things up a bit: Who said learning can’t be fun? (We’d like to have a word.) According to research from Columbia Business School, gamified training “supports the efficient acquisition of new concepts, amplifies problem-solving skills, and helps employees connect the dots between specific actions and positive business outcomes.”
- Check your progress: How do you know if your training program is working? By measuring its impact, of course! Track employee performance, gather feedback, and analyze the results. This helps you identify areas for improvement and ensure that your training is hitting the mark. Don’t forget to actually use all that juicy employee feedback you get, and don’t be afraid to tweak your training along the way.
By following these four steps, you can create a training program that’s effective, engaging, and enjoyable for your employees. Yes, really!
The time for better training is now
By now, you should be totally convinced that employee training is the way to go, and a necessity for any business that wants to survive in today’s competitive landscape.
When you provide your employees with the know-how they need, you’re making them better workers and better people. You’re also creating a more engaged, motivated, and productive workforce. This can lead to increased innovation, happier customer satisfaction, and ultimately, a healthier bottom line.
Or maybe you’re still thinking, “This all sounds great, but how do I actually put it into practice?”
Learn365 to the rescue! Our powerful LMS solution is like a one-stop shop for all your training needs. It’s packed with features that make it easy to create, deliver, and manage engaging training programs that get results.
With Learn365, you can:
- Create stunning courses, thanks to our easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.
- Deliver training anytime, anywhere with our mobile-friendly platform.
- Track employee progress and measure the impact of your training programs.
- Boost engagement with gamification, social learning, and personalized learning paths.
Why wait? Take the first step towards a brighter future for your business and your employees. Book a demo of Learn365 today and see for yourself how it can help activate the full potential of your workforce.
