How can trainers match employee career goals to organizational needs?

Employee training gives employees new skills for their own career development, while also serving the organization’s overall needs. Here are a few tips for designing a training program that benefits both your company’s and employees’ goals:

Set Clear Criteria

It’s important to set clear guidelines for what defines success, both for the individual employee as well as company-wide. Having the employee identify their specific career goals, alongside the overall goals of the organization, can help trainers integrate the two.

For example, if an employee’s goal is to have a high number of sales, and the organization’s goal is to increase revenue by 10%, trainers can clearly demonstrate how customer sales will directly increase the company’s bottom line. Combining the two aims can help motivate the employee because they’ll see that they work at a company that shares their goals.

Stick to the System

Trainers can optimize their team’s learning program by aligning it with their organization, including but not limited to

• lines of authority

• values

• policies

• systems

• other business practices

A comprehensive training program will enhance the likelihood that the employee gains knowledge and skills they can use in their current job as well as later in their career path with the organization.

Use a Variety of Channels

Use multiple channels to conduct training, such as:

• classroom lectures

• role-playing

• e-learning

• on-the-job practice

Variety in training helps meet an individual employee’s learning style, while giving them a look at different parts of the company, perhaps even identifying a future career path within the organization. This varied experience allows the employee to connect their training to specific career goals and also understand how their training fits in with the company’s needs.

Final Tip

Training doesn’t have to focus on only the organization’s or employee’s goals. By encouraging employees to identify their individual career goals, you’ll allow employees the opportunity to pursue their career path while also benefiting the company.

Helpful Links:

Establishing Clear Expectations for Employee Goals and Tasks – employee-performance.com

Developing an Effective Employee Training Program – smallbusiness.com