8 Employee Training Tactics That Actually Work

How to train your employees effectively

Consider the following eight training strategies that can set up team members — and your organization — for success. 

1. Set employee expectations during training. 

Poor communication limits an employee’s ability to perform at full capacity. One of the best training strategies involves clearly setting expectations for employees and communicating them. Setting expectations means you and your employees will be on the same page. It also gives employees an opportunity to ask clarifying questions. Immediate open dialogue clarifies expectations and operating procedures while setting the tone for future learning and workplace interactions.

2. Offer microlearning initiatives to supplement employee training.

Increasingly busy schedules and decreasing attention spans make it harder to find time for learning and enrichment in the workplace. That’s why microlearning (short, focused and often interactive learning initiatives broken down into three- to five-minute segments) has become so popular in the modern workforce.

Matthew Brown, Ventana Research’s HCM (Human Capital Management) research director, says microlearning forces companies to “deliver the most meaningful and critical content in a condensed format that is designed to be snackable and accessible in the moment of need.”

Because of its format, microlearning is often best applied to informal, straightforward training needs instead of conveying complex skill sets.

3. Offer e-learning opportunities for employee training.

E-learning opportunities are an excellent way to make learning more accessible to your employees, particularly if you have a remote or hybrid workforce. Flexible work arrangements have become standard for many businesses, and that flexibility should also extend to learning.

“E-learning strategies make the transfer of learning from corporate down to front-line employees significantly more efficient and impactful,” Brown explained. “Especially in today’s fast-paced and highly distracted world, we learn in more ways than ever before. Being able to deliver the content your employees need at the moment they need it is critical to their success.”

Darren Shimkus, founder and CEO of skill development platform Modal and former president of Udemy Business, agreed that e-learning works because it allows employees to control their experience. They can learn relevant subjects at their own pace and on their own time.

“Online learning provides that flexibility and low-pressure environment that enables learners to more readily succeed,” Shimkus noted. Additionally, the ability to download course content for mobile use is key, allowing employees to learn on the go.

4. Allow new employees to shadow colleagues during training. 

It’s one thing to have someone explain how to perform a particular task; completing it on your own is entirely different. Demonstrating and practicing how to carry out a task on the spot can be the most effective way of learning. Melissa Cohen, head of corporate marketing at Calendly and former managing partner at Metis Communications, recommends incorporating hands-on shadowing into your new hire training plan.

“The shadowing process allows trainees to retain information better by applying learned skills in real time and translating them to their daily tasks,” Cohen explained. “It also helps new team members experiment with responsibilities in a controlled environment without risk, all while building their confidence.”

5. Hold one-on-one meetings during training.

Kathy Thiessen, senior vice president of operations at 101 Mobility, says structured, biweekly meetings between employees and supervisors are an effective training method.

“Our leadership team adheres to that schedule to show our trustworthiness and our investment in the team’s success,” Thiessen explained. “Employees are required to bring their own agenda to kick off our coaching discussion.”

These meetings focus on opportunities to develop skills and ways to build on self-identified strengths. They also include time for employees to share openly.

“I like to close out those meetings by talking about the last 10 percent — the things that are difficult to discuss or topics an employee may be hesitant to discuss,” Thiessen shared. “This needs to be done knowing their confidentiality will be respected.”

6. Start a mentoring program to bolster employee training.

Employee mentorship programs can be helpful for personal and professional development. Find a mentor uniquely qualified to guide each new employee through their career. This type of program can also help new hires acclimate to your company culture. Employees gain access to someone to turn to if they are struggling without fear of judgment. Mentors can help educate employees throughout their tenure with your organization and guide them to the resources they need.

7. Hold lunch-and-learn employee training sessions.

Some employees learn best in a more relaxed environment. Many businesses have adopted the concept of a lunch-and-learn session, in which a team member or someone from another company gives a brief seminar-style presentation while refreshments are served. It doesn’t even have to be a full lunch. For example, Cohen said Metis Communications hosts optional, 45-minute Bagel or Beer ‘n’ Learns in the office and over video chat for its employees.

“In these sessions, a senior team member usually creates a casual, interactive and engaging presentation about a topic [they have] personal experience with, and then opens it up at the end for further discussion,” Cohen explained. “Such sessions usually lead to brainstorming among the group, as well as comfortable, open communication between team members of all experience levels.”

8. Offer video employee training sessions.

Video training is increasingly popular, particularly among younger generations. While live training sessions can be engaging, not everyone can always attend them, and employees may not retain the knowledge they learned. Recording training presentations and offering other video training makes learning resources readily available to your team when needed. They can serve as an excellent post-live presentation refresher or a convenient catch-up for those who missed the meeting.

“For basic training on technology tools and other standard PR and marketing practices, we provide links to video recordings and have the team make internal presentation recordings through Join.me, so any team member can watch them at [their] own convenience,” Cohen shared.

How to make your training more effective 

Consider the following tips to improve your training strategies: 

• Customize employee training when possible. Fred Mouawad, founder and chairman of Taskworld, said employee training shouldn’t be approached with a one-size-fits-all mindset. Instead, tailor training programs to each employee’s skills and profile to boost motivation and success. Employees learn differently, so determine visual, auditory or kinesthetic (learning by doing) learning preferences.
• Communicate the importance of training to boost engagement. When employees know they’re receiving critical information, they’ll be more likely to view training as essential. “It’s important to convince employees about the effectiveness of training programs to boost their engagement,” Mouawad advised. “Remember that lecture in school when you just couldn’t focus on what was being said, when your mind was in a completely different place? That’s exactly how employees feel when they are not interested in training programs.”
• Provide incentives for completing training. Willingness to learn is a critical factor in career success, but sometimes, employees need a little push. If you have trouble getting reluctant employees interested in using your training opportunities, consider offering incentives and gamifying the training process. For example, set up competitions and offer gift cards or paid time off to employees who complete training and demonstrate their knowledge. 
• Gather employee feedback on training programs. Conduct employee surveys to gather their thoughts about training initiatives and ensure you’re not wasting anyone’s time. “Figure out what your employees actually want to learn and what kind of skills will make them more effective in their jobs,” Shimkus advised. “By aligning learning and training opportunities with the preferences and desires of employees themselves, businesses will be able to keep their teams engaged and productive.”
• Offer continued learning opportunities for all employees. Learning should be an ongoing process, and strategies need to be modified over time. Cohen suggests making training an ongoing discussion with employees to ensure your educational strategies continue to be useful for new hires and training leaders. “We’ve implemented a variety of in-depth training methods through the years, but not everyone engages in them effectively, and it would have been a disservice to keep a training approach around just because it seemed like a good idea on paper,” Cohen said.

Importance of effective employee training 

Investing in effective employee training is a critical factor in your business’s growth and success for the following reasons:

1. Effective employee training sets up your employees for success. Training programs are essential for successful new employee integration. They’ll learn how your business works and gain the tools they need to thrive in their jobs right from the get-go.
2. Effective employee training builds employee skills and knowledge. From new employees to experienced veterans, everyone benefits from acquiring new skills and knowledge and polishing what’s already in the tool kit. Training gives your employees the boost of confidence they need to take on new tasks and better handle familiar ones.
3. Effective employee training increases productivity. Effective training teaches employees how to do their jobs better, so they’ll complete tasks in less time and with fewer mistakes. And increased productivity doesn’t just make managers happy — it positively impacts your business’s bottom line.
4. Effective employee training improves employee satisfaction. When your employees have the right tools, they can perform their jobs well. Feeling successful and competent in their roles will increase employee satisfaction and engagement, which is vital to building long-lasting employee-employer relationships.
5. Effective employee training makes employees feel valued. Investing in your employees is a great way to demonstrate that they’re valuable members of your organization. Employees who feel valued will be motivated to help your business flourish. Plus, employee appreciation is key to low turnover.
6. Effective employee training broadens your talent pool. Providing growth opportunities retains employees and helps you cultivate future leaders already well-versed in your company culture. Getting employees ready to step into higher roles in the company guarantees you’ll be placing people you know are prepared and loyal.
7. Effective employee training addresses problems head-on. When things aren’t running smoothly, a training program can target the problem area and help your team course correct. Whatever the issue, effective training instructs employees how to get things done correctly so everyone is on the same page and the likelihood of future bumps in the road is reduced.
8. Effective employee training leads to happy customers. When your business does a great job, your customers will be happy. Knowledgeable and efficient employees guarantee an excellent product and a stellar customer experience. Training programs shape employees who will keep your clients satisfied and build customer loyalty. 

Make ongoing training a priority

Employee training should be an integral part of your business strategy, not an afterthought or a quick fix. Taking the time to carefully plan and organize a well-rounded training program tailored to your employees will ensure that training makes an impact. To guarantee the benefits stick, provide continuous learning experiences and opportunities for growth. Effective training leads to competent and engaged employees, creating long-term business success.  ​​

Thomas Anziano and Skye Schooley contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.