Training: 3 Questions

Three quick questions to get you thinking about your business’s training needs.

1. Review business aims

Before deciding on training requirements it’s crucial to appreciate the strategic aims and needs of the business. Doing so ensures training delivers relevant business benefits.

If your business plan identifies a weakness in customer service, you may work to train customer-facing employees. If ‘online’ has become a strategic goal for the future, you may need to train your web, IT and marketing people, and potentially your management team, who might require training in order to navigate the ever-changing online world.

Ask yourself: Where is your business going, and what additional skills are needed to get there?

2. Review employee needs

Your employees might identify specific training needs which could help to both develop themselves as individuals and push your business forward. In such cases it’s valuable to listen and act.

Reviews may form part of regular performance monitoring and personal development planning. Talk to employees about what skills development they feel would make them better at their jobs, and why. This helps to connect personal development and strategic business need, so that you can make plans for training that create benefits for both the employee and the business.

Ask employees: What additional skills could help to push themselves and your business forward?

3. Review training options

Think about training options within the context of the skills gaps to be filled and the people to be trained.

• Workshops – Training groups of employees together, led by an expert trainer/facilitator.
• Seminars – Employees attend in-house or external seminars organised by training specialists.
• Job shadowing – One employee observing or working with another whilst they do their job.
• e-Learning - Learning online using written, audio or video content and interactive tools or tests.
• Distance learning – Educational training courses suited to training at home or work.
• Study leave – Allowing employees leave to undertake training fully or partly funded by business.
• Out-of-hours – Evening or weekend classes undertaken by employee, funded by business.
• Coaching and mentoring - Close relationship between trainer and trainee to get the best from both.

Ask: What training method can best deliver the skills your business needs, and best suit your people?

For more comprehensive guidance on training read Fit the training to your needs.

More information – Improve business performance through training

More information – Skills and training for better business performance