9 Types of Employee Training, and When to Implement Each

Employee training is the process of teaching new or current employees the hard and soft skills needed to perform their job effectively. This may include training for specific tasks, onboarding, and company policies and procedures, or it could involve soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Employee training can be conducted in a variety of ways, in a variety of settings, including on-the-job training, classroom instruction, and online courses. Depending on the nature of the training and employee level, one form of training may be more appropriate than another.

Different types of employee training benefit businesses by increasing the skills and productivity of their workforce most effectively and understandably. Well-trained employees are more efficient and effective, leading to increased profitability and lower turnover for the company. Proper training and onboarding for new hires reduce the risk of workplace accidents and errors, helps improve employee morale, and generate better job satisfaction.

Employee training benefits existing employees too; it can help them to develop new skills, move up the career ladder faster, and increase their earning potential as well as employee retention. Engaging employees in ongoing training increases loyalty and motivation, employees have a better understanding of their individual roles and responsibilities, how to work more effectively as part of a team and recognize the broader impact of their contribution.

The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay

– Henry Ford

Types of employee training

Each type of employee training has its own unique approach and characteristics. Some training types may be more suited to certain jobs or work better to educate employees in specific skills or procedures.

Some common forms of employee training are –

1. Technical training

Technical training helps individuals develop the skills and knowledge needed to perform specific technical tasks and adapt quickly to new technology. It may cover topics such as software applications, programming languages, and hardware operation. It is essential for any organization that relies on technical skills and knowledge. By developing technical skills both new and experienced employees can stay up to date with the latest technologies and trends, improve their skills, and become more efficient in their roles.

2. Classroom-based training

Classroom-based training is a traditional method of training where individuals gather in a physical classroom setting to learn from a trainer or instructor. Classroom-based training can be beneficial because it allows individuals to learn in a structured and interactive environment, where they can ask questions, participate in discussions, and receive immediate feedback from the trainer or instructor. Additionally, it allows for more personal interactions between trainee and trainer, allowing for better understanding and clarification of the material. It is designed for teaching employees things like technical skills or complex business procedures.

3. Online training and e-learning

Technology such as computers or mobile devices are used to deliver training content online. This has the benefit of training a number of employees across multiple locations, allowing them to access scheduled courses or training materials from any location. An online training method can be a cost-effective and efficient way for companies to deliver training across groups of employees. Self-paced e-learning allows employees to learn at their own pace, using an online or virtual platform. This can work well for employees who are unable to attend training sessions in person or prefer this type of learning experience.

4. Compliance Training

Compliance training is a crucial component of any organization’s risk management strategy. It ensures that employees understand and adhere to laws, regulations, and policies that apply to their specific industry or organization. It will include information around issues such as data privacy, workplace safety, and anti-discrimination. Compliance training is often mandatory to ensure employees are aware of their legal and ethical obligations. It not only helps to mitigate the risk of legal and financial problems, but it also helps to maintain a positive reputation for the organization. By providing regular compliance training, companies can help their employees understand the importance of compliance and create a culture of compliance within the organization.

5. Onboarding training

Onboarding training makes efforts to smoothly integrate new employees into the company culture and ensure they are prepared for their role. It can help new employees in their onboarding process to clearly understand their new roles, along with the responsibilities and the culture of the organization. It serves as an introduction to the company and may set out expectations for performance and provide guidelines on how the employee can contribute. Onboarding training is important as it engages new hires from the start and enables them to adapt to the business environment quickly.

6. Product Training

Product training helps employees to understand the product better and be able to communicate that knowledge to customers. It focuses on the features, benefits and advantages of different products to share details about different items. It can be useful for organizations that have complex or technical products that may otherwise be challenging for employees to understand. With regular product training, companies can ensure that their employees have the understanding and knowledge needed to sell or use products effectively.

7. Sales Training

Sales training provides the skills and knowledge needed to effectively sell products or services. This type of training may cover sales-related topics around customer service, negotiation, and closing techniques. It also focuses on building and maintaining customer relationships, which is crucial for long-term success in sales. Sales training helps sales professionals understand the buying process, identify customer needs and develop effective sales strategies. Additionally, it can also help sales professionals to overcome objections and develop effective communication skills. Organizations can use sales training to help their employees keep up to date with the latest techniques and strategies and increase their sales performance.

8. Leadership Training

 Leadership training is one of the best ways of developing the skills and qualities that are necessary to lead and manage a team or organization effectively. Leadership training may encompass other methods of training and be delivered using workshops, seminars, mentoring programs, and online courses. The goal of leadership training is to help individuals develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become effective leaders and managers. It can be a valuable investment for organizations that wish to upskill their employees and support succession planning.

9. Anti-Bias and Diversity Training

This training type helps individuals understand and recognize the impact of bias and discrimination in the workplace. This type of training typically covers topics such as identifying and challenging unconscious bias, creating a more inclusive work environment, and understanding the impact of discrimination. The training helps employees to understand their own biases and how they might impact their behavior and decision-making. It also helps employees to understand and respect the diversity within the organization. With regular anti-bias and diversity training, organizations can communicate the importance of inclusion and equity and create a more inclusive and workplace culture.

There are only two ways a manager can impact an employee’s output: motivation and training.

– Andy Grove 

 When to implement each type of training

Each type of employee training can be used for different reasons and outcomes, and it will depend on the specific needs of the business and employees as to which form of training is the most suitable.

When assessing which training method should be implemented, companies will need to address a few things. A training needs analysis (TNA) identifies the needs of employees and assesses their existing knowledge and skills. Gaps can be identified, and the best method of training can be determined. This information can be gathered by conducting employee interviews, using surveys, or by making real-time observations of their competency.

Business goals and objectives must be evaluated to determine the type of training that will be most effective and enhance productivity in the workplace. For example, a company that wants to improve its customer service and communication skills among its employees may benefit from attending sales training or classroom-based training. If the goal is to improve management skills, leadership training may bring the best results. For employees that need to learn about a specific technical skill, then product or technical training may be the answer. Or if improvements need to be made in cross-team collaboration and to promote inclusion among the workforce, then anti-bias and diversity training may be the most appropriate methods.

Deciding on the best training use can also be dictated by the learning style of an employee. Some employees may enjoy the flexibility of self-paced e-learning. Others may flourish under direct classroom learning to make job improvements or learn new skills. 

While a large proportion of training is designed to drive employee improvement with upskilling and better job knowledge, some training is designed to protect the company from problems or legal issues. Hence why so many businesses invest in onboarding training and compliance training to ensure that employees are not stepping outside of legal or safety guidelines.

A training budget and availability of teaching resources will also be a factor in determining the type of training that should be implemented. For companies with a limited budget, training methods like online or self-paced e-learning may be more affordable and cost-effective than classroom or workshop instruction.

Learning management systems (LMS)

A Learning Management System (LMS) software is used for the delivery of educational courses, video training programs, or e-learning and development programs. A Learning Management System is designed to provide a centralized platform for managing and tracking employee training and education. This system is widely used due to its vast array of options as well as its cost-effectiveness for every business’ pocket.

The main purpose of an LMS is to automate and streamline the process of employee training and LMS like Open LMS and Talent LMS allows organizations to create, manage, and deliver online training content, as needed and track employee progress including completion rates and test scores.

LMS provides a way for employees to access and track their own training progress, allowing them to take ownership of their e-learning. With the implementation of advanced technology and AI integrations Docebo and Cornerstone LMS platforms enable businesses to easily monitor the performance of employees and identify areas where additional training is needed. Training programs can be dynamically adjusted to meet different levels of employee capability.

With the ability to tailor LMS training to the needs of individuals, companies can swiftly address and meet any training gaps with customized courses that will provide employees with the necessary skills and information needed. It can help companies to automate compliance and keep up with mandatory training requirements like health and safety or ensure employees are up to date on the latest product releases and improvements.

Tracking tools allow companies to quickly see which employees have completed training and identify those who still need to take specific classes or courses. As onboarding and compliance needs can be supported virtually, using an LMS allows companies to work cross-functionally with HR to manage and support activities.

Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.

– C. William Pollard 

Conclusion

Teaching new or current employees the skills they need to perform their job effectively will provide companies with a workforce that displays better morale and employee engagement. With a range of online learning options available, different techniques and training methods can be critically assessed and implemented to deliver the most effective and productive training, benefiting both employees and businesses.

LMS software can help organizations to deliver complete and targeted training programs to employees, fill training gaps, and provide up-to-date performance monitoring.