Many companies provide training for new entrants to their workforce and then do not realize the value of on-going training for all employees. Training isn’t just about showing someone how to do their daily tasks. Training is important to the overall health of the company.
For a company’s policies, procedures, and operating processes to be robust and be the backbone of the company, they need to be consistently applied and adhered to. Training can ensure this as it provides clarity of the expectations and underlines the employee’s necessity to commit to following the requirements. As well as regular training, all employees should have access to a policy and procedures manual to refer to as required.
Increased productivity and adherence to quality standards
Logically, with training, productivity should improve. With training comes the consistency identified in the previous point and consistency reduces errors and unproductive time, thereby increasing profit margins. And this can apply across the board from everything like adherence to computer security protocols to health and safety. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn out process. For example, Safety Talk Ideas provide important safety messages delivered in less than 20 minutes.
One of the most important benefits of training is strengthening the skills of employees who show weakness in specific areas of their job. Training will bring them up to equal level with the rest of the workforce creating smoother processes and a more knowledgeable staff overall. Training can also be a development program to enable all competent employees to learn new and better skills, something which can be fluid to be adapted as the needs change as business moves forward. A training and development program can cover anything from the introduction of a new product to improving computer security.
Investment in training and development is one of the signifiers to employees that they are valued. Indeed, some employees see training as a benefit as training can help them progress through the company ranks. If an employee is achieving job satisfaction because they are performing well and are receiving continuous investment in the form of training, they are less likely to see a new employer. When retention rates are stable there are savings in recruitment costs and training also reduces other costs.
Increased innovation in new strategies and products
If there is a supportive atmosphere underpinned by a strong training and development program, the workforce can feel enthused and motivated to be creative and they feel they have a safe forum in which to be creative. When this happens, employees provide valuable input that can improve processes, eradicate errors, identify time saving ideas, and also contribute ideas for new products or changes. All of these can improve your bottom line, increase your margin, reduce losses, and increase your market share.
The power of training in the workplace should not be underestimated, Even in its most basic form it is an important factor in productivity and ultimately profitability.