Training is one of the important investments for a company’s growth. The success of training sessions depends on how well the entire process is planned and executed. It requires a good amount of effort and time commitment to achieve the desired results. Despite the time and cost investment, it also requires a well-qualified and experienced training delivery partner.
The 2021 Workplace learning trends report states that over 50% of a company’s workforce will need to upskill training by 2025.1 It means organizations should start preparing their workforces for the future with the help of learning and development experts. The professionals identify the gap between potential and existing skills, customize the training infrastructure, and create learning content accordingly.
Dos and don’ts to consider when finding a training partner
Keep the following dos and don’ts in mind and you’ll surely end up hiring a reliable training delivery expert.
Connect with the professional if they –
1. Provide support services and L&D tools
The kind of services and tools you look for in a training delivery partner depends on the project type to be completed. Some training partners facilitate their clients with advanced leadership and development tech solutions, including user-friendly content creation tools, LMS, etc. Some offer complete support services to the client, while others may offer other support. In other words, determine whether the training partner’s type of services, L & D tools, and solutions meet your unique goals.
2. Focus on aligning the learning sessions with the company’s objectives
Training delivery is a small part of learning and development services provided by training delivery partners. The services of the expert you hire should align with your organization’s goals so that the entire process is managed efficiently.
Companies struggling to manage multiple L&D projects should look for a training partner who can consolidate all the outsourced tasks. It will reduce the overall working cost, time, and efforts you may otherwise spend in managing everything independently. Connecting with a learning and development delivery partner makes it simple to match all of the learning objectives for maximum performance.
3. Have real positive testimonials and reviews by previous clients
Websites, testimonials, and customer reviews provide valuable insights and info about the company and its work. Well-established and reputed training delivery partners also facilitate their potential customers with case studies containing details of past projects and clients.
Be careful when reviewing the company’s information, services, and client testimonials. Take note of the training delivery projects and methods they have handled in the past. It will give you a better idea of whether or not the professionals can handle your specific requirements.
4. Experienced and highly skilled in their field
Count on the experience when finding a training partner. Well-established and experienced trainers know how to handle various challenges of their job and what solutions will be needed to combat those issues. Moreover, their hands-on experience allows them to provide in-depth details of handling various challenges with the right approach.
Plus, experienced trainers are also excellent thought leaders, and the resources shared by them come in handy in meeting the day-to-day challenges of work. Hence, it’s important to check the training partner’s digital presence before hiring them. Check their online content such as videos, blog posts, etc. Attend their webinars and conferences if they conduct such sessions. Look for a dedicated and passionate trainer.
Don’t consider hiring a training deliver partner under the following conditions –
1. No Proven Track Record
One of the major reasons for bringing a training partner into the picture is to have an expert who can assist and provide solutions to the training problems you can’t handle alone. Hence, there is no point in hiring a training partner that doesn’t have a track record of achievements and accomplishments.
A track record or work portfolio gives access to the working style of the professional. Plus, you’ll also learn about the clients’ goals and the success rate of the efforts employed in achieving them. Go through their case studies to learn about these details. Alternatively, you may ask for referrals of their previous clients to get first-hand info.
2. Incapable of facilitating clients with a customized approach
Every company has its unique training requirements, and the trainer is expected to meet those requirements with tailored solutions. The expert should be capable of understanding the organization’s particular needs and creating effective content accordingly. It should be valuable to both the company and its employees.
Avoid partnering with a training delivery partner if they don’t facilitate clients with custom training. Even if they offer a personalized curriculum, it should align with the project’s needs and the skill set of the employees.
3. Doesn’t provide assistance and resources when needed
A capable and reliable training partner gets involved in the process even before the beginning of the training. Note that training requires a time commitment, and you wouldn’t want to waste your time fixing the technical glitches in training.
The training partner should provide adequate resources for the training. Hence, they should be available for assistance as and when needed, preferably during office hours. Besides, the student-trainer ratio is also an important factor that impacts training quality. It would be best to connect with an organization that can facilitate multiple trainers so that all the attendees get equal attention.
Conclusion
Employee training provides several advantages such as better performance, improved job satisfaction, a boost in morale, higher employee retention, increased productivity, and work engagement.
Outsourcing is one of the ways to ensure top-notch training delivery. Plus, the HR team can also focus better on the core initiatives of the organization. Though all the learning and development service providers use similar tools, their solutions may vary depending on their expertise and experience level. A reliable and experienced training partner can change the game completely. They’ll not only meet your L&D needs but also focus on maximizing the effectiveness of the training program.
