Types of Employee Training for Your Business Development Strategy

The first week is an education for a new hire in a new job. The employee learns about the company, expectations, and job responsibilities; the company learns more about their latest big HR investment. But the introductory formalities are really just the start. True employee training is something that never ends — or shouldn’t. It is an ongoing and evolving process, for better or for worse. “For better” when it’s done with purpose and expertise; “for worse” when it’s a mindless modeling of unintentional standards.

Successful organizations understand that they never actually stop training their employees. They know employee training goes beyond orientations and updating the workforce on changes in laws, OSHA standards, and industry regulations. They also:

• Strive to evolve into something better
• Recognize that desire in their employees
• Optimize opportunities for both

Here’s how to seek the types of employee training that help companies remain competitive as their employees achieve new skills and job satisfaction.

What are the benefits of employee training and development?

65% of workers said being able to participate in an upskilling program was a major factor when considering a new position.

Studies are showing that training and development of employees is more important than once thought. A recent Gallup report states that about 65% of workers said being able to participate in an upskilling program was a major factor when considering a new position. In the same poll, 61% of employees said ongoing training opportunities were a major factor in their decision to stay. The bottom line: Employees value the opportunity to better themselves and their work.

When employees take part in continuous learning, they see that the company is investing in them and their future. Employees may become more likely to take pride in their work and the company’s overall business performance. This naturally results in an increase in focus, morale, production, accuracy, employee retention, and other critical aspects of business.

Types of employee training 

According to business training development trends, gone is the rise of one-off training sessions after which employees forget what they learned and why they even attended. Today’s workforce demands are better addressed by a continuous learning experience to fill perpetual skills gaps and advance career goals. Many businesses experience gaps in skills like public speaking, writing proficiency, attention to detail, communication, teamwork, technology and leadership. Bridging these gaps is easier than ever with modern-day agile learning methodologies and emphasis on continuous, incremental, and adaptive learning.

Orientation 

This type of personalized training starts on an employee’s first day and may last up to a week. It serves as an overview to new hires and the start of the company and employee getting to know each other. Many organizations share foundational information on the business’s background, processes, and procedures. Ideally, new employees learn more about company mission, culture, benefits and what’s expected of them.

Onboarding

This personalized learning can take weeks or months. Its purpose is to show the employees what is expected in their new role. Onboarding training often covers their job description, work duties, and how to fulfill them. It might also cover the employee’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and how to achieve them.

Diversity training

Diversity training covers behavioral skills that help support a peaceful and safe work environment inclusive of people from different backgrounds. It can include how to spot and handle harassment, how to help a co-worker who is experiencing harassment, and what to do if you experience harassment.

Sales 

Sales training is mostly for the sales team. It often involves role-playing, presenting the sales team with real-world scenarios for practice and insight handling customer objections, questions, and issues. Trainees might receive real-time feedback on their performance.

Product 

Product training goes deep on the products the company offers or makes. This training goes hand in hand with sales training, but should not substitute for it.

Technical

Technical training involves the technical skills and understanding needed to perform a job. It can be specific to computer software, computer hardware, mechanical devices and other matters specific to the use of technology on the job.

Compliance

Compliance training commonly focuses on safety, security, legal, and personnel issues. The training will depend heavily on the type of business. Compliance training often is introduced at orientation or onboarding. But it’s really considered ongoing training, because standards and guidelines change. HR staff can stay on top of the most common compliance situations with Zenefits’ free 2022 HR Compliance Calendar, a comprehensive guide with key dates, deadlines, and reminders.

Leadership 

Leadership training is designed for employees in management roles and those who are interested in seeking such roles. Some companies mistakenly think that someone who excels at their job can naturally become a leader in their department. However, different skills are involved. Leadership training is actually among the most important of training concepts.

This training involves learning or improving soft skills, such as communicating effectively, handling a crisis, discipline strategies, and leading others. It’s often shaped by interactive experiences, experiential learning, and lessons in using critical analysis for problem-solving.

Wellness 

Wellness training is designed to help employees take better care of themselves. It can be delivered in groups and through personalized training programs.

Why is it among the latest training trends? In general, healthier employees feel better, think better and perform better. Fewer sick days translate to increased productivity and workforce morale.

Customer service 

A customer-service team has more power to make or break a company than many people realize.

People might like a service or product, but bad customer service can keep them from recommending it to friends or being repeat customers. Likewise, many people will overlook an initial problem if it’s resolved with care and respect.

This type of training tends to focus on soft skills, also called power skills, such as patience, attentive listening, and empathy. Training programs might use role-playing so representatives can practice real-world situations that may arise. A well-trained, patient, and helpful customer service team can be the saving grace for a company.

Training programs might use role-playing so representatives can practice real-world situations that may arise. A well-trained, patient, and helpful customer service team can be the saving grace for a company.

Lead the way

Companies thrive when their employees thrive, and employee training programs are more important than ever. Keep the momentum with a corporate training and development strategy that incorporates in-person and digital learning for ongoing training and a more personalized corporate learning experience. Further explore what types of employee training best suit your company, goals, and people, then begin integrating it as part of your overall business development strategy. Check out Zenefits Workest for more on how to use training to attract and maintain employees.