Companies understand that in today’s fast and always-changing business world, it’s really important to help their employees grow and get better at what they do. This factor holds pivotal importance for achieving long-term success. And for this, leaders or managers need to give their employees more chances to learn, grow, be happy and work well. But sometimes, employees and managers think training is boring and unimportant.
Training can be boring, but only if it’s not the right training for what you want to learn. If you match the training with what your employees need, it can be more interesting and helpful for them. Employee training and development empowers individuals, fosters their skills, and enhances organizational performance. There are numerous approaches to training employees, from traditional classroom sessions to cutting-edge digital platforms.
10 Best Employee Training Methods for 2024
Finding the right way to train your employees can be tricky and take a lot of careful thinking and planning. It can also be overwhelming for the people in charge of employee training and development, especially since training can be expensive and time-consuming. Here are the top 10 methods of training for your employees to keep them engaged and help them learn better.
1. Instructor-Led Training (ILT)
Nothing beats the power of human interaction regarding employee training. Instructor-Led Training brings experts and learners together physically or virtually. This method allows for personalized attention, promotes active engagement, and facilitates real-time feedback, making it a timeless and effective approach.
Here are the benefits of instructional-led training:
- Direct communication with trainers and fellow employees helps prevent feelings of social isolation.
- Prompt and efficient responses provided to address any questions during the training program.
- An efficient approach for tackling complex subjects requiring individualized guidance.
2. On-The-Job Training (OJT)
Hands-on experience is invaluable; on-the-job training allows employees to learn while performing regular tasks. This employee training method involves shadowing experienced colleagues, gaining practical skills, and observing real-world scenarios. OJT helps employees acquire job-specific knowledge swiftly, fostering both confidence and competence.
The benefits of on-the-job training include:
- One of the most efficient methods for succession planning training.
- Promotes rapid learning by immersing employees in real-life situations.
3. eLearning or Online Training
eLearning has emerged as a game-changer in employee training in the digital age. The utilization of eLearning obviates the necessity for physical classrooms, thereby leading to cost reductions. This employee training method leverages technology to offer adaptable and easily accessible learning opportunities. Through interactive modules, video tutorials, and online quizzes, employees can learn at their own pace, anytime and anywhere, ensuring continuous development and knowledge retention. This form of employee training is highly convenient to implement, particularly for larger groups of individuals, especially those working remotely or prone to frequent job transitions.
The benefits of eLearning include:
- Online courses with interactive elements and gamification to engage employees and enhance knowledge retention.
- Learning on the go using a smartphone is possible through online courses.
- Automation reduces costs and decreases the instructor’s involvement in training.
- Employees can conveniently manage work and learning by accessing online courses at their preferred time.
- Learning Management Systems (LMSs) offer crucial data to calculate training return on investment (ROI) and evaluate program effectiveness.
5. Simulation-Based Training
Sometimes, employees need a safe environment to practice complex or high-stakes tasks. Simulation-based training recreates real-life scenarios, allowing individuals to test their skills without the fear of consequences. This type of training method enhances decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities by immersing employees in realistic simulations.
The benefits of the simulation-based employee training method are:
- The training is hands-on and reliable.
- It enables employees to consistently and individually develop their skills.
- It allows employees to address challenges they are likely to encounter.
5. Gamification
Who says training can’t be fun? Gamification integrates elements of games with learning objectives, resulting in a captivating and immersive training experience. Points, badges, leaderboards, and rewards motivate employees to participate actively, promoting healthy competition and knowledge absorption. This method not only fosters enthusiasm but also boosts long-term retention of information.
Game-based training methods have several benefits:
- Gamification excites learners to achieve a course’s goals, making them more engaged and likely to finish it.
- Learners get immediate feedback as they advance in the game, helping them learn and improve faster.
- Learners receive badges or rewards as they play the game, which boosts their motivation to keep going.
6. Social and Collaborative Training
Social and Collaborative training allows employees to learn from each other by sharing their knowledge and expertise. They observe, imitate, and model the behavior of others to learn new things. This technique improves the training experience using employees’ skills, ideas, and knowledge.
The benefits of social and collaborative learning are:
- It fosters a culture of continuous learning wherein team members collaborate and gain knowledge from one another.
- Group training saves time and money.
- It helps people remember what they learn better.
7. Mentoring and Coaching
Mentoring and coaching programs establish a one-on-one relationship between experienced professionals and mentees. These programs create a supportive environment where mentors provide guidance, share experiences, and offer personalized feedback. By tapping into the wisdom of experienced employees, this method helps individuals refine their skills, develop leadership qualities, and navigate career progression effectively.
The benefits of establishing a mentor-mentee bond include the following:
- It helps employees form a lasting connection even after training ends.
- In a classroom setting, employees may feel more at ease asking questions they might otherwise be hesitant to ask during instructor-led training.
- Employees learn by observing their mentor’s actions in real-time.
As per the findings of Gallup’s 2023 Guide to Engaging and Retaining Employees, it is recommended that organizations support employees in utilizing their strengths across all job responsibilities and involve them in coaching conversations.
8. Mobile Learning or mLearning
In an era dominated by smartphones, mobile learning offers convenience and flexibility. This method leverages mobile devices to deliver bite-sized training content, such as microlearning modules, podcasts, or video tutorials.
Mobile learning brings the following benefits to its learners:
- Access educational content anytime, anywhere, using mobile devices.
- Integrated into daily routines with mobile devices.
- Interactive features make learning enjoyable and improve information retention.
- It enables quick access to specific skills or concepts in bite-sized units.
9. Role Playing
In role playing, learners and instructors simulate workplace scenarios, which is particularly useful for employees who interact directly with clients or customers. It provides them with experience handling challenging customer situations, such as call center training.
Benefits of role playing include:
- Enhanced employee engagement through relatable scenarios.
- Encouragement of problem-solving and critical thinking skills in real-time.
- Equipping employees to handle challenging work situations effectively.
- Enhancing employees’ interaction skills for improved customer satisfaction.
10. Blended Learning
Blended learning integrates conventional classroom teaching with online learning elements, resulting in a hybrid educational approach. This method allows face-to-face interaction and digital resources, offering a flexible and dynamic learning experience.
The benefits of blended learning include:
- Learners access online materials at their own pace, accommodating different styles and schedules.
- Offers personalized paths, focusing on individual needs and interests.
- Interactive online activities and in-person discussions foster active participation.
- Encourages collaboration through online forums, group projects, and in-person interactions.
- Reduces resource and travel costs associated with traditional training.
Conclusion
Gartner says that “quiet hiring” can help find talented people in high demand. This means that instead of advertising job openings publicly, companies can find skilled employees through other methods. At the same time, companies should provide more training and learning opportunities to their current employees to gain new skills and meet the organization’s changing needs. Investing in employee training methods represents a strategic investment in the long-term prosperity of any organization.
Whether through instructor-led sessions, eLearning platforms, simulations, or mentoring training programs for employees, there are numerous ways to unlock the potential within your workforce. By embracing these top 10 employee training methods, organizations can foster continuous growth, boost performance, and ultimately achieve their business goals. Remember, a well-trained workforce is an empowered workforce ready to take on any challenge that comes their way.
