Every business that’s set to grow invests in training its people. Training not only empowers employees and improves morale, but it also allows businesses to benefit from the skills that they develop through their training. In this guide, we’ll explain the essentials you need to create a stellar training plan template you can use for your employees time and time again.
Training plan essentials
It’s important to set up training for both new hires and existing employees. With new hires, it sets clear expectations and helps employees to start off on the right foot. Continued training and development for all employees will maintain consistency across your business and enhance your employees’ performance. While your training plans might differ depending on your employees’ tenure, industry and seniority, all training plans should include the same essential elements.
Assess training needs
The first thing you need to do when making a training plan is to measure the needs of your employees. What areas do they already have expertise in and what areas might they need more help with? You might want to create an assessment to identify any areas of weakness.
Set goals and objectives for your training plan
Setting goals and objectives manages your employee’s expectations, explains the aims of your training program and outlines the tangible benefits of completing training. SMART goals are proven way of setting a clear focus with measurable results. SMART goals are defined as;
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time Based
Defining the goals and expectations with SMART goals will give you the whole picture of how effective your training is.
Define which mode of delivery is suitable
It’s important that your training plan is rolled out in a way that your employees can effectively learn and deliver the desired outcomes of the training. Depending on what you are training your employees on you might want to consider practical sessions, role-playing different scenarios or group-based training. Some of the other ways of delivering training include;
- Webinars
- One-on-one coaching
- E-learning
- Walkthrough guides and playbooks
Making sure your training is delivered in a way your employees find valuable is key to making sure your training plan is successful.
Measuring success
Adhering to SMART goals should make it easier for you to measure the success of any training program. There are various ways you can measure the success of your training program. This could include:
- Training assessments: Testing employees on what they’ve learned is a good way of making sure they have retained all of the information outlined in your training program.
- Measuring impact on the business: Monitor the results of your training in your business. Can you see improvements in performance after the training has been completed? An example of this could be if you run a sales training program, if your sales figures see an uptick from when the training was carried out.
- Ask your employees for feedback: Asking your employees how they found the training and what they found useful is a good way of gauging success. Do they feel like they learned anything new and how can they see themselves applying their learnings to their work day to day?
Measuring the success and feedback for your training program is just as important as implementing it. Finding any gaps or areas for improvement will only help your training become stronger in the long run.
Training spaces in Birmingham
Looking for a space for staff training? Our meeting rooms are ideal for carrying out practical training sessions for 6-25 delegates. Our high-end furnishings and state-of-the-art facilities are the ideal environment for your training needs. If you want to find out more contact our helpful team today.