Studies show that employee development provides numerous benefits for the employer, such as increased productivity, loyalty, knowledge, and contribution from employees. It’s no surprise, then, that organizations spend more money than ever on employee training, with an average of $1,252 per employee in 2021.
Still, there’s more to employee training than throwing a lot of money at it. Even if you create a strong learning environment, it won’t mean much if your employees aren’t motivated to take advantage of it. Here are four things you can do to make on-the-job training a more attractive proposition to your employees.
- Make Training Practical
The best way to encourage your staff to embrace training is to make your courses practical and relevant to the job. One way to do that is to analyze your performance objectives and use the results to create better training goals. You can also ask your employees which parts of the job they’re struggling with and give them the training they need to overcome it.
Once your employees notice how their training leads to improvements in performance, they’ll be more likely to participate in future courses.
- Implement One-on-Ones
One-on-ones allow for transparent communication between team members and managers. These meetings offer plenty of benefits, from clearing up doubts your employees may have to setting expectations for them. This makes them a great tool for keeping your staff more motivated and focused on the organization’s goals.
You can also use one-on-ones for offering regular feedback. To get the most out of them, make these meetings a monthly feature.
- Use a Mobile-Friendly System
One way to motivate reluctant learners is to make training easy to access. In today’s modern world, this means using a learning management system that’s compatible with mobile devices. This gives your employees an opportunity to learn wherever and whenever they want by using any device they choose.
For best results, use microlearning strategies when designing your training courses. When training is quick, your employees are more motivated to take advantage of it.
- Allow for Self-Learning
Between their home and work life, many employees struggle to find any free time. You can remedy this by allowing them to set aside a few hours a week for self-improvement. This can include anything from taking an online course to exploring new software. If your employees have the time and tools they need, they’re more likely to learn by themselves.
The great thing about this trick is that it costs you nothing and requires very little effort on your part, but you’ll still have a more motivated and confident team.