Employee training is a major element of the Human Resources world; the HR department is usually responsible for helping to determine non technical (e.g. soft skills, supervisory skills, etc) organizational training needs, developing training programs, and tracking the effectiveness of the training employed.

There are numerous methods available for training, each of which is effective when used to fulfill certain training objectives and needs. For instance, a training exercise out doors using horses may be an effective way to conduct a leadership development/team building exercise, where as sitting in front of a computer and completing an online training module may be a better way to learn about organizational culture and values.

Here are a few of the most commonly used training methods. The big tip here is that when trying to decide which training method to use, go with your own discretion after conducting a through needs assessment (sorry, no big secret here).

• Traditional classroom learning- We have all experienced this in one form or another. And though it is still effective and widely employed, it is not as heavily relied upon as it once was. With the advent of new technologies, face to face learning is no longer a necessity.
• Learning on the job – On the job training is an effective method of training an employee with real world scenarios. This type of training is effective for managers and is usually done with a supervisor and/or trainer. This is a great method for training as it shows trainees exactly what they can expect on the job; however, it does add elements of stress and pressure since it is a “real life” environment in which they are learning. It’s either sink or swim!
• E-learning – As already mentioned, e-learning is rapidly expanding into the modern workplace and becoming a flexible alternative for traditional classroom based learning. E-learning may be used in a number of different ways: there are companies that use avatars in a Second Life world to conduct training programs, while others use the iterative learning model with a computer program to reinforce the principles they are trying to convey.

Whatever your desired method of employee training, when conducted efficiently and thoroughly, they can all be effective means of helping develop you workforce.

Comments

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Our Recent HR Blog Posts

• Dealing with a Toxic Boss
• Company Policy for Instant Messaging and Text Messaging
• The Grapevine: Informal Lines of Communication
• A Free Communication Method that is Thousands of Years Old!
• When Do Teams Make Sense?

Quote of the Day

Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present. ~ Rudy Giuliani