Maximize Your Workforce With Staff Training & Development

Propelling your business forward isn’t something that happens automatically, although all of us wish that it would just take care of itself! Most businesses train new-hires by providing them with the knowledge and skills that they’ll need to succeed. But not all businesses focus on continuing that training and development to ensure that their staff continues to learn, grow, and find success within their organization.

Because training has to fit around the working day, and your employees still need to perform their jobs, training stands as number five on the top list of outsourced HR tasks. By training your staff thoroughly, you are providing them with the tools they need to succeed in their current position, while also showing them their potential to follow a career path within the organization. Investing in your employees by allowing cross-training with other departments, or by assigning additional responsibilities, gives them a sense of ownership in their position and helps to prevent turnover.

Regular staff training sessions can serve as a refresher or reminder of the company’s values and expectations. For example, four types of training practices that businesses should consider are:

• The Prevention of Unlawful Harassment And Discrimination
• The Prevention of Workplace Violence
• The Prevention of Wage-And-Hour Law Violations
• The Adherence To The Organization’s Code of Conduct

Training that encompasses these ideas should occur at least bi-annually, and often annually, especially if the business has frequent new-hires. Many businesses choose to hold in-person training sessions with the option of on-line participation for remote workers and for those who are absent or are unable to attend. On-line training sessions are often the most convenient, since they can be completed on the employee’s own time and do not disrupt business operations by requiring all employees to be in a training session at the same time!

Staff training can also be much more specific, like specific training sessions designed to inform employees about certain aspects of their job. Customer service seminars can give employees new ways of interacting with customers. You might also use training to show employees a tool that will help them perform more efficiently. For example, you may choose to train your team on a new software or on the use of social media in marketing.

Training can lead to team-building as your employees come together in a collaborative environment to learn about a new platform, focus on a common goal, or revisit what makes your company operate effectively. It inspires your employees to do their best and perform in the way that you want them to,  and may also protect you from potentially disruptive or costly situations. For example, by conducting Sexual Harassment & Diversity Awareness training, you’re instructing staff on proper behavior in the workplace, which may prevent a harassment situation. If harassment occurs, you can show a jury that as a company, you tried to prevent it and you don’t condone such behavior.

Bottom line: every employee can benefit from training. Training leads to a better culture and helps retains employees as you invest in them and they invest in their jobs. As Zig Ziglar says: “What’s worse than training your workers and losing them? Not training them and keeping them.”