Why bother with training?

• As the business world is continuously changing, organisations will need to provide their employees with training throughout their careers. If they choose not to provide continuous training they will find it difficult to stay ahead of the competition.

• The other benefit of training is that it will keep your employees motivated. New skills and knowledge can help to reduce boredom. It also demonstrates to the employee that they are valuable enough for the employer to invest in them and their development.

• Training can be used to create positive attitudes through clarifying the behaviours and attitudes that are expected from the employee.

• Training can be cost effective, as it is cheaper to train existing employees compared to recruiting new employee with the skills you need.

• Training can save the organisation money if the training helps the employee to become more efficient.

Induction training

This is training that an employee will receive when they first join an organisation or begin a new role. This type of training is designed to provide the employee with the essential skills needed to perform their job. Induction training can also include an introduction to the company ethos, values and culture so that the employee is aware of the behaviours expected of them.

On the Job training

As the name suggests, on the job training, is training provided during the regular performance of duties. This can take a variety of forms including:

• The employee being guided through a task or process by a colleague or supervisor, so that the employee knows how to perform the task and to what standard.

• Shadowing, spending time with an expert so that the employee can observe how the expert performs their daily duties.

• Observations, the employee is observed whilst they perform their duties. At the end of the observation, the observer will provide the employee with feedback on their performance.

• Coaching, the employee will learn new skills (not knowledge) and have the opportunity to practice the skills with the coach before using the skills in the workplace. An effective coach will review the employee’s performance to ensure that the employee uses the newly learnt skills until they become habit.

• Mentoring, the employee is partnered with an experienced employee so that they can discuss performance. The experienced person is known as the mentor and the employee they are partnered with we will call the mentoree. The mentoree will discuss their performance and problems with the mentor.

Off the Job training

This is training provided away from the employee’s usual work environment and the employee will stop their usual duties/work during the training. Off the job training may be in the same building or off site. This training may be provided by trainers working for the same employer as the employees being trained or an outside company hired by the employer such as Fish HR & Training.  Usually a combination of on-the-job training and off-site training works best.