How to Choose Effective Training Methods
Training methods come in all shapes and sizes. Fortunately, training and development options are not one-size-fits-all so you can choose the training method that is the most effective option for your needs. The training method you choose can vary by the group of attendees or even the training topic. So, even if you choose one technique for one type of training, you can go through this exercise to choose the right method for each training initiative. Many benefit from our free consulting for choosing the right training method and platform.
Determine the Goals for the Training
The reasons that companies choose to offer training sessions to employees varies. Some training provides new skills to employees, while other training offers new techniques for applying existing skills. Other types of training instill practices that make the company a safer place to work or a better place to work.
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Recognize the Audience
It sounds like a marketing concept, but it applies to training as well. You have to know your audience before choosing a training method. The way you train employees varies according to the whether the attendees are new employees, seasoned employees or upper management or executives of the company. Additionally, the skill level of the audience can also affect the chosen training method (Example: The computer/web skills of the attendees are non-existent. This can make web or computer-based training more challenging).
Constraints
Even an ideal situation, companies have to offer training under certain constraints. While classroom training might be ideal for upper management learning leadership skills and techniques, the company might not be able to afford this face-to-face training method. Instead, a computer-based or web-based option might better fit into the training budget. Other constraints to consider include time and the training resources and materials available for the training topic.
Once you have the answers to these questions and understand the situation, it is easier to choose the training method that best fits your needs.
Training Methods
The top five training methods available include:
Each training method offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages that answer the needs you uncover while assessing the training goals, audience and constraints. For example, you can uncover that there is a professional trainer that you can bring into the company to train your employees on new techniques available for their existing skills. Additionally, there is an option for web-based training, where the employees can attend a live webinar with the same professional.
You realize that bringing the trainer in house is more expensive than the web-based training option. You also realize, however, that the employees that require the training seem to respond better to training that is face-to-face. Because of this, you decide that classroom training is the best method to teach these new techniques to the employees.
Assume that a company has the same training needs and options available. The difference is that the company has a budget constraint. Bringing the trainer in house falls well outside of the budget they have to train their employees. The web-based option offers them the same access to the information employees need to instill the new techniques, but at half the cost of classroom or face-to-face training.
Several different training methods are available to companies looking to offer a training program to its employees. After answering some easy questions, decision-makers can decide which training methods can work for the type of training.
Lastly, partner up with a firm like eLeaP. We can help you choose the right method and system to implement.
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