Consistency is important in an employee training program – or really any part of a business. Your team should be able to rely on one another to provide consistent quality and results. Customers want to know that they will always get the best product or service when they hire or buy from you.
Unfortunately, some employee training programs lack consistency. This can occur at various stages of the learning process.
New hires should receive the same onboarding as existing and future employees. This should include the basics every worker needs to move seamlessly into their role on your team. Onboarding content may be broader in focus, rather than specialized for specific jobs. It should provide a foundation for employees to build on as they move through your company.
Often, when an employee settles in and becomes a seasoned member of their team, their training stagnates. Continuous learning is proven to have many benefits. It reduces skill gaps, improves employee retention rates, and gives a business more power to promote from within. All these things allow a company to build a strong workforce with lower recruitment costs.
That means you need to offer training that will appeal to existing employees. You may have a solid onboarding program that includes training, but your program lacks consistency if you don’t also have learning opportunities for seasoned workers.
It’s easy to get tunnel vision and focus only on productivity. Productivity is important, after all. However, consistent training can help boost output and improve efficiency in many other areas.
What can you do to make sure your employee training program is consistent?
- Compare Quality of In-Person and Remote Training
Not every business had a solid remote training program in place before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many made the switch, but there were some problems. One of the biggest was a lack of consistency in quality.
Some organizations didn’t put the effort and resources into their remote training programs as they did their in-person classes. That means that anyone who has to use remote training is going to be at a disadvantage. There is no reason that it has to be this way, especially considering the many online training tools that are available.
Make sure your organization’s online and in-person training are similar in quality. If not, get them up to speed so you can offer a consistent experience no matter which format is used.
- Give Everyone Access to the Right Training
Every employee training program will have content that is meant for specific job roles and content meant for everyone. Make sure each worker has access to the right training.
For example, your program may include training on workplace conduct or sexual harassment. These are topics that apply to everyone in your organization. However, a course related to managing a team is likely not necessary for anyone who isn’t in management or an aspiring manager.
A good way to keep training consistent for all job roles is by building learning paths. These serve as a list of the courses that employees need to complete based on what they do or their goals. Paths can be created for new workers with a broader focus on the basics. Others can be specialized for a specific task, job, or group.
Having learning paths in place now will make it easier to get workers through the training that they need without missing anything.
- Make Sure Your Message is the Same Across All Languages
If your organization operates across borders, make sure your messages are the same in all languages. Localizing training content is important to make sure everyone gets the same experience.
Much can be lost in translation. Work with native speakers to ensure that your training sends a consistent message in every language you offer.
- Assign Training Time That Every Employee Can Use
Giving employees time to work on training during business hours is a great way to get them motivated and engaged. However, make sure you do this consistently. Some job roles may be more demanding. Coverage may be an issue and must be accounted for before you can send someone to a class or online training.
It is worth the effort to make sure all workers have time to complete training. If someone isn’t given adequate time, then their learning experience will most likely be lacking. They could fall behind the rest of the team.
- Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Communication is important for ongoing consistency. Trainees should be able to interact with trainers and their managers or supervisors and vice versa.
By making sure that everyone can reach out to the people they need, you can reduce potential miscommunications and delays. If a trainee is struggling with the material, they should be able to easily contact the trainer and ask for additional support. If a class is rescheduled, trainers should be able to inform their training class quickly, so trainees don’t waste time waiting for the session to begin at the wrong time.
- Test Run Courses and Ask for Feedback
The quality of your courses should be a top priority. You want to offer the best training if you want the best results from your team.
Test courses and ask for feedback from trainees. Find out which material works, and which doesn’t. Are there any topics or tasks that aren’t well covered? Do some areas move too slow while others move too fast?
Have your subject matter experts review your courses to find out if you’re missing anything. Testing and applying feedback now will help you develop effective training classes moving forward.
- Leadership Needs to Set an Example
Your company’s leaders should set an example when it comes to training. If they want workers to be consistent about completing courses and applying knowledge, then the higher-ups should do the same.
Everyone, including the executives and management, should show up to training on time. They should complete assignments and modules in the same timeframe as everyone else. They should also be enthusiastic about training. Setting an example will encourage employees to also be consistent about their career development.
- Build a Central Repository for All Resources
Everyone in your organization should have access to the resources that they need to train or refresh their knowledge. Having a central repository like a knowledgebase is a good way to do this.
Many LMS platforms offer built-in libraries where organizations can put all types of media and resources. Store documents, videos, audio clips, images, or links to external resources in a searchable place.
Also, make sure all workers are aware of your repository, so they know where to look when they have questions or need a document.
- Use Assessments to Verify Knowledge Retention
Assessments and quizzes are a good way to verify that an employee understands the material they just learned. Place assessments at strategic points in your training program. Most include one after completing a class or module.
An assessment doesn’t have to be a big, stressful task. Instead, they can be placed at the right spots to make sure the employee understood what was taught. If they do, they pass and can move on to the next section. If not, then they should re-take the class or be given access to supplemental training to help them along.
- Track Analytics to Look for Learning Trends
Track analytics for your training program and look for trends. This information can help you make better decisions about how you approach employee training.
If you see classes that are performing well, with high completion rates and good feedback, then use this as inspiration for future courses. Anything that isn’t performing well should be revisited and updated or removed and replaced with something better.
- Use an LMS that Tracks Certifications
Many LMS platforms will track certifications for you. These are great for businesses that need to remain compliant with industry rules or laws.
The LMS will show you who is certified and when they need to re-certify or take a refresher course. Having this information stored and readily available will help you keep your team consistently up to date and in compliance.
- Don’t Assume Everyone Has the Same Knowledge
You shouldn’t assume that everyone joining your team has the same level of knowledge. Some may come in with more and others with less. Instead, make sure your training program covers everything within reason, so all workers are up to speed.
Trainees should also feel comfortable asking for assistance if they are falling behind or missing important information. Nurturing a culture of positivity and open communication will help keep training consistent.
Find the Right LMS for Your Business
Consistency starts with a solid learning management system. If you are looking for a way to improve your training program, visit LMS.org now. Read LMS reviews to find which platform offers the tools you need to build a strong workforce.
