Training is still heavy on classroom lectures and written tests. Is it any wonder that new hires and old hands alike come out of sessions glassy-eyed and bored beyond measure?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Article Author: <\/div>\n

Anthony Onesto, Chief People Officer, Suzy<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tTo many employees, their workplace training has as much appeal as watching beige paint dry on an interior wall. Too many employers still think handouts and PowerPoint presentations are enough to keep employees interested and up-to-date with industry changes. In fact, using Suzy<\/a>, a consumer insights platform, we found that most employees are frustrated with their company’s learning and development programs. We asked Suzy, “What three words come to mind when thinking about your company’s training programs?” <\/p>\n

\n\tThe most popular words were “boring” and “long,” showing that most employees are not satisfied with their company’s learning and development programs. <\/p>\n

\n\tTraining is still heavy on classroom lectures and written tests. Is it any wonder that new hires and old hands alike come out of sessions glassy-eyed and bored beyond measure? Effective training has to include a number of teaching methods developed to appeal to a variety of learners and applied year-round.<\/p>\n

\n\tEffective Training Methods<\/strong>
\n\tA combination of the following methods<\/a> is effective for many employees:<\/p>\n

\n\tE-learning:<\/strong> These programs exist in huge numbers and are easily accessible. Large corporations develop their own courses, a practice some smaller companies also have adopted. E-learning activities are most effective for those who work best at their own pace.
\n\tInteractive Learning: Other employees learn by doing, so role-play and group scenarios are effective for them. Individuals may groan when they hear “role-play,” but it still works as a safe way to learn new skills.<\/p>\n

\n\tMentoring\/On-the-Job Training:<\/strong> Some learners prefer learning as they do the job with the help of a mentor or trainer. They may not retain written information, but they shine in real-world situations. These employees hate sitting on the bench.<\/p>\n

\n\tVirtual Reality Training: <\/strong>Virtual reality<\/a> (VR) already has proven to be an excellent aid for employee training, but more organizations need to embrace it. VR allows employers to put employees into realistic training situations while remaining in the classroom or conference room. Studies have shown that employees using VR headsets is even more effective than employees doing VR exercises on a computer.<\/p>\n

\n\tPersonalized Training:<\/strong> Perhaps the most effective method is to personalize<\/a> each employee’s learning. This means they spend one-on-one time with their superiors and contribute to a learning plan that works for them. This type of training is labor-intensive but can help employees excel more quickly than other methods can.
\n\tTraining shouldn’t just take place once a year, either. Employees need to be challenged to improve at all times. Something as simple as installing Grammarly on their computers can help them improve their written language skills on a daily basis. You also can send them online links to pertinent material as often as you wish.<\/p>\n

\n\tNot all training will be fascinating, but providing a mix of activities aimed at different learning styles will keep employees more engaged and result in them retaining more information. And you will benefit from having skilled and interested employees.<\/p>\n

\n\tTraining shouldn’t just take place once a year, either. Employees need to be challenged to improve at all times. Something as simple as installing Grammarly on their computers can help them improve their written language skills on a daily basis. You also can send them online links to pertinent material as often as you wish.<\/p>\n

\n\tAn expert in building people strategies and operations, with a strong background in establishing and scaling innovative companies, Anthony Onesto is a professional people person, advisor, and progressionist. Prior to becoming the Chief People Officer at Suzy, he founded KAE.ai, an artificially intelligent human resource agent that augments Human Resources departments. As the first head of HR for FreshDirect, Onesto took the business from 30 to 2,000 employees in five years. He also helped build and scale several high-growth startups over the course of his career, including Zeta Interactive, SolidStreaming, Savos and Big Fuel, which grew by 500 percent in two years. Onesto frequently sits on panels and speaks at innovation, digital transformation, startup, and HR conferences. In addition, he hosts the New Yawk HR show.<\/em><\/p>\n

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