8 Ways to Get Employees to Love Training
8 Ways to Get Employees to Love Training
Learn how to launch a training program that employees will actually be excited about participating in.
Freight brokers are implementing professional training programs for good reason. Increased employee engagement and productivity as a result of training will directly impact your bottom line. So, how do you launch a training program that employees will actually want to participate in and won’t fizzle out soon after roll out? Here are some tips to get you started.
Clarify why.
Often times, the program launch will set the tone of how your employees will participate. If you just say, “OK, we have a new training platform and you all are required to complete 2 courses a month” it will be seen as additional, unnecessary work. By explaining why you are implementing the program, you have a better chance of gaining employee buy-in. Tell employees that you are paying for training in order to continually invest in them by making sure they have all the tools they need for their job. Tell them you think you have the best team around and you want to make sure they are constantly growing in their roles and skills. Clearly tell them what the training goals are for the group so that they understand what is expected of them. And hopefully you take a few of our suggestions below so that you can announce some fun aspects of the training program as you roll it out to your team.
Make it good.
The most important part of a training program’s success is making sure it is relevant material and useful to your employees. If the training program doesn’t have content that applies to their daily job, you will have a hard time keeping employees interested. 97% of our users agree that the training is helpful to their work, that is how we keep them engaged.
Do it with them.
If you participate in the training with your staff, you not only show them how you value training but that you are a partner with them on this journey. Being able to discuss the training courses with your employees is also a great way to keep them engaged and motivated to participate. It also shows them that the content is valuable to you because you are taking time to do it. This helps with the credibility of your training program.
Incentive.
Providing a small reward is a great way to encourage employees to participate in your training program. You could raffle off one giftcard each month and give employees 1 raffle entry for each course they complete that month. Non-monetary incentives work as well. You could award employees with a special parking space for a week or give them a 2-hour lunch break for a day as a reward for completing a training goal you set. Or, you can tie training goals into how your company evaluates merit increases. Building training goals into annual reviews will show employees the importance of continually learning.
Food.
Yes, we are serious. Food will get people excited about almost anything. One manager had success with a weekly ‘Lunch and Learn’ meeting with her team where they ate sandwiches and watched training videos as a group. The cost for buying sandwiches was minimal but you could even have employees bring their own lunch but provide sodas, chips, fruit and dessert. She would still give them the required break so as not to break any HR requirements. Another option would be to do ‘Coffee and Cookies’ training meetings mid-morning or mid-afternoon. The employees looked forward to this time together and it strengthened the camaraderie.
Recognition.
At your monthly or quarterly company meetings, announce each person and what training they completed. This peer recognition is an important way to reaffirm how much value you place on their continued growth and success. Don’t have company meetings where you can do this in person? Announce it in the company newsletter instead.
Ask for their input.
There will be some training that all your employees need for your business to run effectively. However, each employee also has their own interests and skill sets. Simply asking them what they want to learn about is important. You may be surprised by your employees’ interest and it will give you insight into how their talents can be best put to use at your company.
Make it a habit.
This is essential to a successful training program. The program will only work if people participate. We are all busy and get pulled into a thousand directions each day. We have found success with setting a time each week or month to dedicate to training with the team. This way it is a standing appointment and everyone attends. You could have each employee do the training appointments on their own, but it is easier to skip it if there isn’t anyone else to hold you accountable.
We hope these tips help you with implementing your program. Let us know how we can help with your company’s specific training needs. Happy training. Don’t miss our free webinar on how to launch your training program.
RSVP for one of the webinars:
January 10th
11am PT
REGISTER
January 12th
9am PT
REGISTER
About Brokertrain
Brokertrain is the training platform for freight brokerage companies to empower employees with strong sales, leadership and service skills needed for business growth. Brokertrain is designed to accelerate your company’s performance, results, and profit. Brokertrain is a subsidiary of TranStrategy Partners, Inc. For more information about Brokertrain, visit www.brokertrain.com
About TranStrategy Partners
TranStrategy Partners coaches entrepreneurs to transform their organization into a vigorous and more valuable business. Our expert consultants collaborate and guide you and your organization through a holistic coaching approach that delivers accelerated growth, higher profits and re-energized staff. Guaranteed! Visit www.transtrategypartners.com to learn more.
