Imagine you’re given a choice between two drivers for your daily office commute. One is trained and the other is not. Who would you choose? Obviously the trained one. But what if there is no upfront cost for the untrained driver? You still wouldn’t choose him? Yet there are many organizations that don’t engage in employee training.
Employee training is one of the most important aspects of the HR process in any organization. It trains your employees in the area of your business. But it is just not limited to that. Usually, it is done for practical reasons like keeping up with industry standards, onboard new recruits, a demo on how to use the copy machine, etc. All of these are critical parts of your organization’s relationship with your employees.
Many businesses aren’t aware of the real importance of training employees and the measurable impact it has. Sometimes, your well-qualified employees can also become under-qualified due to changing technology or the development of new methods. Training is crucial for organizational development and success. It is fruitful to both employers and employees of an organization. An employee will become more efficient and productive if he is trained well.
Training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of all employees, but many employers in the current climate find development opportunities expensive. Training employees costs time, money, and materials. Often, third parties are needed to conduct job training. Employees attending training sessions also miss out on work time which may delay the completion of projects. However, despite these potential drawbacks, training and development provide both the individual and organizations as a whole with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment. The return on investment from the training and development of employees is really a no brainer.
Listed here are a few reasons why employee training is important for an organization:
1.) Improves employee performance
The prime motivator for employee training is to improve productivity and performance. The employee who receives the necessary training is more able to perform in their job. And when executed well, it does just that. The skills they learn empower them to deliver a better quality of work with a fast turnaround rate. There is less wastage of time, money and resources if employees are properly trained. They know their targets and they’re equipped with the tools to effectively meet them. This confidence will enhance their overall performance and this can only benefit the company. Employees who are competent and on top of changing industry standards help your company hold a position as a leader and strong competitor within the industry.
2.) Improves employee efficiency
When employees are not trained to their functions and manage their work well, it takes more time and effort which therefore increases the cost to the company. It takes them longer to do work which they’re not fully trained for. They might even hamper other employees efficiently with constant questioning about how to get the work done. When an untrained worker makes a mistake, the time and materials used are lost. The work then has to be done again. Or worse, the inadequate product was delivered to the client. A well-trained employee will be well acquainted with the job and will need less supervision. Thus, there will be less wastage of time and effort.
3.) Improves employee retention and growth
A powerful by-product of increased performance and engagement through training is improved employee retention. Training gives employees a feeling of value. It indicates that employers are committed to providing employees with the resources needed to ensure they’re doing a good job. This will result in them enjoying their work and remaining loyal to the organization. This will create more opportunities for employers to hire someone from within the company, reducing the cost of recruiting and onboarding. Employees acquire skills and efficiency during training. They become more eligible for the promotion. They become an asset to the organization.
4.) Addresses weaknesses
Employees are likely to have some weakness or the other in their workplace skills. A training program allows you to strengthen those skills that each employee needs to work on. Training programs bring all employees to the same level so they all have similar knowledge and skills. This can reduce weak links within the company who rely heavily on others to complete tasks. Providing training to the staff creates a knowledgeable staff where employees can take over for one another as needed. They can even work on teams or work independently without supervision and help from others. Training even lets your employees learn from the mistakes and wins of others. This ensures that recurring mistakes are reduced and your employees know the strategies for success.
Sandeep is a journalism and mass communication graduate with a keen interest in politics and business. He is a part of Research & Content team at HrNxt.com.