What’s the best way to train employees? 5 corporate training techniques you need to know

There are many benefits to learning how to train employees better. However, one of the biggest benefits of implementing proper training and onboarding, besides having new employees who feel prepared to perform their jobs, is employee retention.

According to the 2020 Retention Report by the Work Institute, voluntary employee turnover is at an all-time high, costing companies $630 billion annually. When employees leave, it affects your company in a number of ways, including:

• Loss of productivity
• Poor customer experience
• Decline in company morale
• Delays and interrupted schedules
• Increased mistakes
• Constant new hire training (wasting time and money)

With a baseline turnover cost of $15,000 per new employee, the cycle of employee departures and new-hire onboarding and training can really add up.

As a manager or company leader, it’s up to you to do everything you can to prepare employees and keep them around. So, how do you that?

Learning how to train staff effectively is paramount. Almost 70% of employees who experience great onboarding are more likely to stay for three years (or more!) at an organization. Effectively training an employee, especially when they first join your organization, should be the main priority for you as a leader.

If you’re interested in learning how to train employees better, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to break down five corporate training techniques to help you implement strategic new hire training at your organization.

Here we go!

5 ways to train employees

If you’re wondering how to train staff effectively, just know there isn’t a simple, one-size-fits-all best way to train employees. Not every employee learns the same way or at the same pace, so implementing well-rounded corporate training techniques can be less stressful and more effective for everyone involved.

Here are five proven ways for training staff members using a variety of different learning modalities.

1. Interactive, technology-based learning

With more and more workplaces accepting a hybrid or even virtual work model, older, more traditional in-person training sessions are becoming irrelevant and impractical. Many flexible and innovative tools are taking the place of multi-day training conferences and seminars.

Today, training an employee is best done with a robust Learning Management System (LMS) that your employees (whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid) can access from anywhere at any time. Though the options may feel overwhelming, companies should also feel good about the endless possibilities they have to prepare new employees for success right out of the gate.

Once your company decides on the best platform to implement, you’ll quickly see the benefits and understand why these are the new preferred methods for training staff. Within this type of learning method, there are a few strategic and engaging ways to train employees. Microlearning and gamification are two examples of technology-based learning that have gained popularity over the last few years.

Microlearning

Microlearning delivers information and training to employees in small, digestible pieces. You can bring microlearning to life through various formats, including:

• Infographics
• 2-5 minute long videos
• Short podcasts
• Daily quick-tip emails

Condensed learning modules make it easier for your employees to comprehend and retain your training information. What used to take employees hours more, takes them just a few minutes at a time. In addition, micro-learning provides them with clear, actionable insights that they can implement on the job.

Gamification

Taking training material and turning it into an online, interactive activity is called gamification. Gamification is another way to improve retention while making learning fun.

Whether you use gamification for new hire training and orientation or current employees' hard and soft skill training, gamified feedback mechanisms like points, status, and social badges motivate employees to learn more effectively.

2. Coaching

Another one of the most critical corporate training techniques is personalized coaching. Coaching involves intentionality from managers and leaders to address high-performing employees and provide them with structured learning opportunities.

A coaching strategy keeps employees and managers on the same page and allows managers to measure trends, track progression, and identify upskilling opportunities for employees. A transparent coaching policy also helps employees feel valued, confident, and more in control of their own success, ultimately leading to higher job satisfaction and retention.

Like traditional employee training, using an LMS system for coaching makes it easier for managers to follow the progress of a coachee while also giving them tailored feedback and encouragement.

3. Role-playing

Role-play is a method of proper training that allows people to apply their knowledge and skills to a situational problem they’re likely to face on the job. By taking on a role and simulating real working conditions, new employees can learn the critical thinking skills needed to perform well in their new positions.

Role-play can really hone in on soft skills training for employees and help decrease situational anxiety, as it prepares them for real-world objections and face-to-face interactions. It also provides an opportunity for employees to receive real-time feedback from more experienced leaders.

4. On-the-job training/employee shadowing

Job shadowing, a type of on-the-job training, has proven to be an effective form of training an employee for certain roles. By following and observing a more experienced employee, new hires gain a better and more comprehensive understanding of the role. If they can shadow multiple people as part of the new hire training program, they can see different approaches and select the one that works best for them.

Employee shadowing can make your new hires more effective and more acclimated in a quicker period of time. This method of training also helps them connect more personally with other employees and start to build relationships with their co-workers right out of the gate.

5. Instructor-led training

Instructor-led training is exactly as it sounds: new hire training or upskilling led by at least one instructor in an on-site location. With instructor-led training, employees learn from a subject matter expert in the field.

When instructors teach employees in a live format, it provides an opportunity for open dialogue. Employees can get in-the-moment clarity on more challenging topics from instructors while engaging and interacting with other employees and team members.

Additionally, virtual instructor-led training (VILT) has become increasingly popular with the remote/hybrid work model. Instead of having to get the instructor and employees into one physical location, VILT allows everyone to connect in real-time from anywhere in the world.

Benefits of implementing these corporate training techniques

So, why go through all the potential upfront costs and time commitment of implementing different types of corporate training techniques?

Because when you utilize a multi-pronged approach to new hire training and upskilling, employees, managers, and your entire organization will experience a multitude of benefits, including:

• A proper training process that’s organized, strategic, and effective
• Better knowledge retention
• Improved collaboration among employees and organization leaders
• Increased competency and productivity
• Better situational awareness and critical thinking in customer interactions
• Higher employee satisfaction and retention

Ultimately, all of these benefits add up to increased overall revenue, organizational growth, and satisfied stakeholders. And who doesn’t want to experience all of that?

Learn how to train employees better with Unboxed

Learning how to train employees better starts with a strong foundation, and the best way to train employees in a hybrid and virtual environment is through a comprehensive training program that moves outside of the four walls of the office. When you provide impactful, engaging training content in a variety of different formats, both your employees and the overall organization will benefit.

If you’re looking for a solution to new hire training, soft skills training, or continuous upskilling, we’ve got you covered.

Whether you need custom or turn-key training options, Unboxed Training & Technology has the solutions that fit your needs. In addition, our Learning Technology Platform (Spoke®) is the perfect tool for training staff members or coaching individual employees remotely. It supports mobile access, real-time reporting, and other essential capabilities fundamental to developing and retaining a successful workforce.

Or, perhaps you’re not really sure what you need or where to start when it comes to training your employees in the new remote/hybrid environment. That’s okay, too.

Contact us today to talk with someone on our consulting team. Or, take the quiz below to learn how you can benefit from our training services. We’re excited to help you Think Outside® the box!