Corporate Training
What is Corporate Training?
Corporate training, which can also be referred to as Corporate Education or Workplace Learning, is a structured approach to educate employees. Corporate training is a crucial element in the development of employees and the growth of a business. It is designed to educate employees and enhance their skills and knowledge, ultimately leading to better productivity and improved business outcomes. In addition to benefiting employers, corporate training also provides opportunities for employees to gain new skills and knowledge, which can help them advance in their careers and personal lives.
For instance, Google, one of the leading tech companies, is known for investing in its employees’ development. It offers a range of training programs, including technical and leadership development, and even personal growth courses. This has contributed to Google’s success, with the company consistently ranking as one of the best places to work.ย
Typically, larger corporations assign the responsibility of training the workforce to Development or Talent teams, while smaller companies rely on their Human Resources department to oversee training programs. These teams work to identify the training needs of employees and design programs that effectively address those needs. They also build strategies and roadmaps for employee development and growth.
According to a report by LinkedIn, 94% of employees said they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development. This highlights the importance of corporate training in employee retention and job satisfaction.
Unfortunately, corporate training programs are often perceived as not valuable to employees, as they may focus on highlighting gaps or be too specific to the employee’s current position. In response, the role of Learning and Development (L&D) is evolving to encourage ongoing learning and development, rather than simply controlling it. This includes providing more flexible training options, such as online courses, micro-learning modules, and mentorship programs.
ย For example, AT&T offers a “Career Intelligence” program, which allows employees to take courses on a variety of topics, including leadership, innovation, and technology. This program offers employees the flexibility to learn at their own pace and pursue courses that interest them, thus fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Corporate training is a critical investment for companies looking to improve employee development and growth. It not only benefits employers by enhancing productivity and business outcomes but also provides opportunities for employees to advance in their careers and personal lives. As the role of L&D continues to evolve, companies are recognizing the importance of prioritizing the individual needs of their employees and offering more flexible training options.ย
Why is Corporate Training important?
Investing in the career growth and skill development of employees is a critical aspect of building a successful and sustainable organization. Both managers and individual contributors can benefit from corporate training programs, which help to keep teams aligned on company goals and foster individual growth that feeds into the organization’s success.ย
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Through effective training programs, employees are provided with the space and resources necessary to grow and develop their skills. This allows them to create a path with attainable goals that they can work towards within the company. By having a clear vision of their career development within the organization, employees are more likely to feel motivated, creative, collaborative, and committed to their work.ย
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Moreover, offering corporate training programs can significantly increase employee retention rates. When employees feel that their employers are investing in their personal and professional growth, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term.ย
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Furthermore, corporate training programs can help to build a strong and cohesive team. When employees are trained and developed together, they are more likely to share a common language, understanding, and set of skills. This can lead to improved collaboration, better communication, and increased productivity.ย
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For example, IBM has implemented a comprehensive training program called “Think40” that requires employees to complete 40 hours of training each year. The program is designed to foster the continuous learning and development of its employees and has been successful in helping to upskill its workforce and improve employee retention rates.ย
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Investing in the career growth and skill development of employees is essential for the success of any organization. By providing effective training programs, employees are given the opportunity to flourish, creating a path with attainable goals that they can work towards within the company. This not only helps to upskill the workforce but also increases motivation, creativity, collaboration, and retention, ultimately leading to a more successful and sustainable organization.ย
4 Reasons many Corporate team trainings Fail
Corporate training programs are designed for the benefit of employees. But many struggle to see value in them.ย ย
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And rightfully so. Stuffy, outdated, and out-of-touch programs have given corporate training a bad reputation.ย ย
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Letโs take a look at four possible reasons why these programs tend to fail.ย
One of the biggest concerns employees have is that theyโre taught skills that they consider irrelevant.ย ย
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Training that isnโt aligned with your employeesโ actual needs will leave them feeling disengaged. Theyโll also not see any value in these programs.ย
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Solution: focus on training that teaches skills relevant to todayโs employees.ย ย
Trying to stuff too much information in each training session will leave your employees burned out and overwhelmed.ย
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Solution: use microlearning to make your training more effective and easily digestible.ย ย
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Microlearning is an online training that delivers information in short pieces of content. It can be delivered in the form of videos, infographics, job aids, or even a quick game.ย
If youโre still using dull instruction manuals and old corporate training videos in 2023, itโs time to throw them out the window. No wonder employees dread corporate training when it involves outdated methods that put them straight to sleep.ย ย
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Solution: revamp your corporate training from boring to engaging and fun through methods like gamification.ย ย
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This popular method gives game-like elements to traditional learning material. This includes badges, points, or levels that employees will work through. A 2019 survey by TalentLMS found that 83% of employees who receive game-like training feel motivated. The same survey reveals that gamification increased employee engagement and productivity.ย ย
Employees donโt like corporate training because itโs often poorly timed. Theyโll feel obligated to participate in training programs that they end up resenting.ย ย
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Solution: Deloitte suggests using technology (like e-learning) to deliver personalized training that aligns with each employeeโs schedule.ย ย
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Online training can be delivered at convenient times that donโt disrupt the workflow of your teams.ย
What makes a successful corporate training program?
Developing a successful program might seem daunting. And to add to the discomfort, there is not one right way to do it. Many factors will define the specific structure and content of each companyโs training program.ย
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Here are the top eight considerations to keep in mind whenโฏdeveloping a training program:ย
This starts before a single lesson is outlined. First, it is important to understand where your teams need and want to develop. Identifying the teams and individuals that can use certain training programs and tailoring them for each group will get you started on the right foot.
It can be hard to stay engaged in the โwhatโ without the โwhy.โ To keep individuals motivated, clearly draw linesโฏbetween team and organizational goals. And note how the training helps drive everyone toward these goals.โฏ
There are a handful of learning styles that employees can fall into. When designing a corporate training program, be sure to appeal to each of these styles. Provide visual, kinesthetic, written, and auditory content throughout the training to keep each member engaged and following along.
Once youโve taken learning styles into account, also consider the level of engagement of the training. Keeping the content engaging and relatable is crucial for the information to be absorbed. Look for moments to ask for participation or create breakout sessions for groups to discuss key points.โฏ
Oneโฏquality of a good leaderโฏis leading by example. Employees are more likely to complete and engage in the training if leadership shows clear interest and advocacy, too.
Bring mindful of individualsโ bandwidth and schedules will be highly beneficial in terms of attendance and engagement. More employees will be able to make the training and focus solely on the program while they are in it.
As with most initiatives, it is important to measure the success of your corporate training program. Try using interviews or surveys to gain insight before and after the training. Also track the quantifiable metrics around each training session, including the length and cost of the training.
Corporate training is not a one-time thing. It takes time and care to develop employees. So be sure to check in with attendees and build upon the skills theyโre developing between trainings.
Four types of Corporate Training
Here are four common โฏtypes of corporate trainingโฏ you can use in your company. Letโs look at how they differ and what benefits and drawbacks they each have.ย
Instructor-led classroom training
Traditional Instructor-led classroom training is the very definition of โold schoolโ learning. And itโs not going away any time soon. A survey byโฏ Training magazineโฏ found that 32% of organizations use it for almost one-third of their overall training.ย
Pros
- Familiar to all participantsย
- Relatively easy to deliverย
- Easy to customizeย
- Supports a variety of assessment typesย
- Easy to create and maintainย
Cons
- Higher cost-per-learner than other methodsย
- Requires dedicated space and instructorsย
- No standardized learning experienceย
- Quality can vary depending on instructorย
- Limited number of learners per sessionย
Virtual instructor-led classroom training (VILT)
VILT puts a 21st-century spin on traditional learning by moving the classroom online. VILT software allows instructors to deliver lectures, show videos, conduct break-out sessions, lead discussions, and observe learner performance. Virtual sessions can be recorded and accessed for review at a later date.
Pros
- Eliminates need for classroom spaceย
- Builds on familiar learning experienceย
- Makes learning accessible to participants regardless of locationย
- Supports a variety of activity typesย
- Can be recorded for future reviewย
- Less costly over timeย
Cons
- Users may feel disengagedย
- Requires experience with technologyย
- Requires a dependable high-speed internet connectionย
- Tech glitches can kick out learnersย
- Instructors may need upskillingย
- Higher up-front costs to createย
Online learning
Online learning has become the โnew normโ for corporate training. The term โonline learningโ can include any number of learning products, including eLearning or microlearning modules, games,โฏ assessments,โฏ learning activities,โฏvideos, and discussion boards.ย
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Supporting materials, such as job aids and learning documents, can be saved in a ‘.pdf’ format to create content that is both digital and accessible to learners.ย
Pros
- Globally scalable and accessibleย
- Standardizes a common learning experience for all participantsย
- Accommodates unlimited learnersย
- Meet learners at point of needย
- Preferred learning method by many younger professionalsย
Cons
- May take longer to develop than ILTย
- May require ID to upskill the technology and content development processย
- Bandwidth can affect access to contentย
- Lack of face-to-face interactionsย
- May intimidate learners who are not technologically adeptย
Blended learning
A blended learning approach combines classroom-based training and online learning into one curriculum. Bringing these two methods together can create a learning experience that captures the best of each method.ย
A blended learning approach combines classroom-based training and online learning into one curriculum. Bringing these two methods together can create a learning experience that captures the best of each method.ย
Pros
- Globally scalable and accessibleย
- Greater opportunities for learner collaboration and connectionย
- Increased accessibility to learningย
- Flexibility for participants to complete assignmentsย
- Can increase engagement and interest for many learnersย
Cons
- Requires a solid technology infrastructureย
- May challenge learners who are not technologically inclinedย
- Instructors and IDs may need upskillingย
- Less motivated learners may struggle to complete work without instructor supportย
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Assess your existing training to see if you are using the best training methods for your organization.โฏย
Check out KNOLSKAPEโs training courses to see which one suits you the best.ย
How to choose the correct type
of corporate training for your organization?
of corporate training for your organization?
Corporate training is an investment in your team and your companyโs future.ย
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By choosing the right type of corporate training for your organization, of course. Here are some tips to keep in mind.โฏย
To choose the correct type of training, you need to start by performing a training needs analysis. Hereโs how:โฏย
- Define what skill sets are most valuable to your organization.โฏย
- Consider what skills your company may need in the next 5โ10 years.โฏย
- Evaluateโฏthe hard and soft skillsโฏof your team.โฏย
These steps guarantee that youโre offering relevant training that your employees will value.
To make sure your training program is effective, you also need to set clear objectives. What do you want your employees to learn?โฏLeadership skills? Company policies and procedures?ย
At the same time, donโt forget to align your objectives with your business goals, mission, andโฏcompany goals.โฏย
You canโt choose the best corporate training program without considering your employees. Have you thought about their preferred methods of learning? What about their schedules?โฏย
Like we saw earlier, younger employees prefer independent learning.โฏย
If your team is mostly remote, online learning may be the only way to go. You may even discover that you need more than one type of training, as employees have different learning styles.โฏย
Think about your budget and resources when youโre choosing the type of training you want to offer.โฏย
When you have a smaller budget, hiring an external facilitator whose job is corporate training may not be realistic. In that scenario, an in-house instructor, like a senior employee or manager, may be a better choice.โฏย
Follow up with your team and ask for feedback. Measuring your results helps keep you on the right track. Otherwise, the money you spend on corporate training is no longer an investment but an expense.โฏย
6 Steps to Build Corporate Training Programs for the Hybrid Workplace
Restructuring your training methods may seem overwhelming. But, with the right focus, you can get easily started. Below are 6 steps to guide you while revamping your training program for adjusting to a hybrid workforce:ย
You can start with a knowledge gap analysis to understand your present and future training needs. Survey to understand what skills are necessary for your industry and what skills the employees want to learn for their job. Use a feedback system to design the training content to fill the information gap effectively. Revisit the training modules regularly to find out if your corporate training courses are still relevant to your business goals.
Remote work can act as an obstacle to collaboration and teamwork. Incorporating soft skills such as communication, time management, problem-solving, decision-making, and so on are essential to overcome this hurdle. Therefore, focus on including soft skills in your training program to let your employees know they are valued.ย
Leading a hybrid workforce is different. You need to equip your team managers with specific leadership training that helps them reach their employees and connect remotely. For instance, in a traditional office environment, the manager walks around the floor offering solutions and guidance to the employees. But, in remote work, employees often feel isolated due to a lack of feedback. Corporate training programs should teach leaders how to create an equal chance for employees to voice their concerns.
This involves including a mix of in-person and online training. Your workforce is already working remotely, so it is best to combine online live sessions with some collaborative workshops to make learning fun and interactive. You can also hold discussion forums to collect feedback from the participants. This approach is great for encouraging collaboration and creating a sense of teamwork.ย ย
In a remote environment, the employees are spread across different locations, so the workflow is changed. Corporate training programs should be built according to the new pace and working hours. You should also promote microlearning that breaks a training module into smaller chunks for ease of retention. Helping people focus on a single concept at a time is great for boosting engagement.ย ย
You need to integrate an LMS system that is robust for supporting virtual blended learning mechanisms. Choosing software that is easy to use and offers a seamless training experience is a key to making training more engaging and memorable.ย
The Future of Corporate Training
By 2025, millennials will constitute more than 75% of the workforce. This is a digital audience that has only ever known a world with technology in it – they want ease of use, innovation, creativity and flexibility. It will be more important than ever to focus on training programs that are a reflection of all these characteristics.ย
There is a strong move towards flexibility in the workplace, not only in terms of location but also the structure of job assignments. The employees are getting more vocal in their demand for training of fundamental skills sets that are transportable across departments and industries. There will be an added requirement of โ21st centuryโ skill sets and social emotional learning component with the next generation employees because these are people that have grown in the digital age and interaction from social perspective is very nuanced to a virtual environment. Researchers have observed that these people havenโt acquired these skills.ย
The bottom line will be the necessity to create a training program that looks more like the future than the past.
Itโs time to rethink corporate training!โฏ
Itโs in your power to provide corporate training programs that bring real value to your team. Effective training gives your employees the career development they want. It also gives your company the competitive edge it needs.
Not sure how? Contact KNOLSKAPE for more information.
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ยฉ2021 KNOLSKAPE. Developed by:ย Xenia Consulting