Though invoice finance and smart accounting policies may be the primary strategies in keeping your cash flow steady, one of the most important aspects in getting your business to run smoothly is ensuring staff members are appropriately trained. It doesn't matter how good of a worker someone is, if they're not brought up to speed correctly, they're not going to be able to perform at their best.
To combat lost productivity and worker dissatisfaction, we've put together this list of tips to ensure your employees are receiving the best training possible:
Appropriately Manage Your Staff
Many companies view even initial training as separate from the employee on-boarding process, but this can be a recipe for disaster. Staff should have clear guidelines and assistance from the moment they sign their employment contract, so investing in solid workforce management software should be your first step.
By doing this, you can easily provide online modules to relevant employees, ensure that all documentation is accessible whenever it is needed, and keep track of who's been trained in what.
Get Hands-On
Nearly any topic can be taught in a hands-on manner, and since your employees are going to be completing the tasks eventually, it makes sense to get them involved in a controlled setting first.
Theoretical knowledge should, of course, be conveyed before actually doing things (especially in high-risk settings). However, once your team understands the basics of how to do something, having them complete the task under careful supervision with expert guidance is the best way to ensure that they can work safely and efficiently.
Participate Yourself
If the training that your team members are receiving is external, consider participating alongside them. This helps ensure that you're across what they're being taught, ensures the trainers you have employed will bring their A-game, and provides a framework for further learning within the team as you can build upon what has already been covered.
You can use this time to network if other companies are also attending (pro tip: take some useful branded promotional products with you to leave a better impression than just simply handing over a business card). If you make a day of it by scheduling a team lunch and/or a fun activity, this training session can also be a great team-building opportunity.
Let Them Learn Their Way
Got an employee who picks things up super quickly just by glancing at the instructions? Don't force them to sit through a presentation that adds no benefit. Or perhaps someone needs to be walked through the process while the task is being completed in front of them? Send them out on the floor with a more experienced buddy.
Allowing employees to learn in their own way, at their own pace, will make your training efforts far more effective and could save you major dramas in the future.
Provide Training Regularly
Finally, it is important to ensure that training isn't just a once-off occurrence. Initial training will always be the bulk of your employee's education within your company, but providing regular sessions will allow them to grow their skillset and flourish in the business.
Regular seminars and workshops help keep employees' knowledge fresh in their minds. Because your material will be updated as trends or procedures change, it is important that staff are kept in the loop about any alterations to policy or best practices.
Making sure staff receive the best training possible is important for the success of your business, and these tips should help ensure that everything stays on track. Let us know in the comments how you keep on top of training your employees.
