Providing ongoing training for your staff doesn't just equip you with skilled employees. It can also increase productivity and boost employee retention.

Survey results show organizations that focus on professional development enjoy 15 percent higher levels of engagement from employees, as well as 34 percent higher retention rates. 

The takeaway? If you're not investing in staff training, you're missing out and you really need these three effective ways to develop a team of trained staff. 

1. Establish Cross-Training, Job Shadowing, and Mentorship Programs

One of the most effective ways to train new team members is to implement cross-training, job shadowing, and mentorship programs. 

Job shadowing gives new employees the chance to apply new skills in real time and translate them to their daily tasks. This allows for better information retention and lets new employees practice new responsibilities in a controlled environment. 

Job shadowing can also foster deeper connections between staff members, and help experienced employees reinforce their own knowledge. 

If you want to take things a step further, you can also start a mentorship program. Mentors can guide new team members through their early days at your organization, and through the rest of their careers. 

Besides building employee skills, mentorship programs are also a great way to help new employees integrate into your company culture. 

Cross training is another powerful way you can foster employee skills development. It taps into the existing knowledge base and experience of your teams, and allows team members to share this expertise with each other. 

Not only can cross training result in better-trained staff, but it also ensures:

  • Knowledge isn't siloed,
  • Team members can stand in for each other, and
  • Increased understanding of co-workers' processes and challenges (which is vital for team cooperation).

2. Use a Learning Management System

There are two secrets to effective employee training: organization and consistency.

Training should be an ongoing process that's personalized to individual employee needs. It should also be trackable. 

Holding a bunch of workshops and never doing any further training is not going to move the needle. 

One of the easiest ways to ensure your staff receives ongoing, structured access to training is via a Learning Management System. An LMS allows employers to deliver consistent yet flexible training, access valuable data, and save money and time. 

3. Look Into Microlearning

Speaking of flexible training, have you heard of microlearning? Microlearning is an education strategy that breaks down large, complex topics into small, bite-sized chunks. These chunks can be viewed whenever the learner needs them. 

This TikTok-esque, short-form training format helps increase retention and is highly flexible. This makes microlearning ideal for busy teams and work environments. 

Microlearning is often video based, but it can also include:

  • Gamification,
  • Quizzes, and
  • Infographics.

Organizations can use microlearning approaches for:

  • Employee onboarding,
  • Compliance training,
  • Employee skills training,
  • Soft skills training, and
  • General tips and strategies (such as time management methods, tips for a well-scheduled workday, etc.).

According to studies, 93 percent of employees want training that's easy to understand and complete. A further 91 percent want training to be personalized and relevant. And 90 percent want it to be fun. 

Microlearning approaches tick all of these boxes. 

Let Us Help You Reap the Benefits of Highly Trained Staff

Highly trained staff is one of the most valuable things a business can have. The better your teams are at their jobs, the more productive and smoother running your organization will become, and the easier it will be to achieve key company goals. 

If you are interested in developing worker abilities and employee skills, you have come to the right place. 

Brian Tracy is a proven leader in business training and coaching. Our programs and services span everything from employee effectiveness to executive leadership and is anchored by proven systems that have been used by tens of thousands of companies for over 30 years. 

Want to explore further? Have questions? Get in touch and let's set up a time to talk.

Brian Tracy USA: 877.433.6225 Email Me feedback@focalpointcoaching.com

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