“Everyone wants to win on Saturday afternoon when the game is played. It’s what you do the other six days that decides the outcome.” – Lou Holtz
Although diehard football fans anticipate football season each year, not everyone thinks about the months leading up to the official kickoff. Before fans once again pack the stadiums, players undergo weeks of strenuous training. In fact, most teams encourage year-round practice outside of scheduled training times to keep their players competitive.
So, why should training a workforce be any different? If you want a competent, well-rounded employee base, superior training should be part of your winning strategy.
Here are various types of training that your company should incorporate:
New Employee: While this is a given, here is your opportunity to make a great first impression. Be thorough—but ensure training remains engaging and avoids minutia that will derail your real message.
Continuing Education: Everyone needs a refresher course to keep crucial details accessible. Brief monthly meetings and more comprehensive annual training should keep your staff well-versed.
Management: This type of training is two-pronged. For one, reserve time to train your next generation of leaders so they are ready to assume roles that outgoing or senior employees vacate.
However, existing management needs refresher courses to stay sharp on current policy and new industry trends. Do not make the mistake of educating your staff but forgetting to keep your management at the forefront.
When you make training a priority, you can expect these promising results.
Well-Established Values: Everyone will get the message if you continually cover what means the most to you.
Employee Motivation and Productivity: When workers know what you expect, they will be more mindful of their work ethic. Plus, they won’t waste time hesitating if they know how to respond in each situation. Positive reinforcement plays a role in motivation, too. Verbal, written, and even monetary thanks are great ways to motivate your employees to greater heights.
Employee Loyalty: As you set your confident, well-trained employees up for success, they will gain the most valuable motivator: personal satisfaction. When workers genuinely enjoy their work, they are less likely to turn elsewhere for employment. Given the expense of onboarding new employees, if you can retain workers by training them for success, why not do it?
Trusted Brand Quality: When you have a loyal, productive workforce that reflects your company values, the public will notice. You’ll routinely turn out better products, project more efficient customer service, and reap the benefits of a happy customer base.
While some businesses provide scant training, citing rapid employee turnover, Henry Ford, the renowned 20th-century entrepreneur, held a different perspective. According to Ford, “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” In other words, always train for longevity. Mind you, some turnover is inevitable, but prioritizing a competent workforce will set you apart and make your company the type that attracts and retains quality workers.