How to Train and Develop your staff #66
- Adrian Dionisio - business737 owner
- May 17, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 20, 2024
Staff training and development are one of the most important areas for business owners. Here are some fundamental reasons why it is important;
To increase sales
To improve customer service
To create a loyal workforce
To lower absenteeism
To reduce workplace theft
To reduce workplace accidents
To create a better work environment
Where possible recruit people based on their personality, motivation, potential for growth and fit. It is much easier to train people how to do a job. It is very difficult to teach them how to behave, act and be responsible and motivated.
How to choose the right people
Look for integrity and a strong work ethic
Select motivated people
Choose people with talent
Look for high-performing individuals
Choose people with initiative
Hire employees who follow the rules
Does the person fits your culture?
Qualifications, competence and experience is obviously very important. Equally as important is passion and motivation. You want team members to embrace your vision. It is important that they are dependable and will do their best.
Remember this important concept - skills can be learned through training, development and experience. It is much harder for people to learn how to be;
Motivated
Loyal
Dedicated
Disciplined
Determined
Often these are the most important traits to look for in potential team members. It is hard for people to 'learn' to have these personal characteristics. The job requirements can be learned. It's worth keeping this in mind. Find people you trust.
When recruiting think about what your employee-to-be may want from a role within your company. If possible keep it within the family and reward staff who have 'phoned a friend' and sent new recruits to your inbox with financial incentives or other rewards.
Select members with complementary skills and abilities. Also bring a diverse range of viewpoints and ideas to the table. Achieving a good balance of personality types will enable the group to work together harmoniously but also challenge each other when necessary.
6 steps to train staff
Initial training
Ongoing training
One-on-one training
Team training
Online Training
1. Initial training
Hopefully you have recruited talented individuals with ambition. Now comes the initial training period. This should not be overlooked because it influences their attitude towards your business. The first days of new employees set the standard for how they view the business, and how they will view their required level of performance.
Here is a list of common mistakes made by a business owners with respect to initial training;
Inadequate training facilities
Lack of appropriate training and reference materials
Person conducting the training often not sufficiently qualified/experienced
Training rushed in order to fit in with other priorities
Lack of testing of trainees' understanding
Too much assumption of prior learning
Too little recognition of prior learning
Training often compartmentalised so the trainee doesn't understand the BIG picture.
Don't make these mistakes. The initial training is the foundation of all subsequent training and development.
2. Ongoing training
Staff Training is a continuous and never-ending process within your business. Make this clear during the initial training period . A properly structured, weekly / monthly training program allows the business owner to;
Evaluate performance of the individual and the team
Review the previous results while they're still relevant
Provide rank, recognition, prizes and bonuses if relevant
Implement new initiatives
Improve staff morale
Increase staff loyalty
Lower staff absenteeism
Regular staff training allows business owners to stay in control of the learning process and also foster goodwill among staff.
Ongoing training gives an opportunity for questions to be answered and staff grievances can be aired. Staff members can become disgruntled without regular contact, so regular training can extinguish potential problems quickly.
Does your business involve the employees to be in regular contact with your clients? A sales business for example, should seriously consider holding daily meetings. However, for a lot of businesses this may be overkill.
3. One-on-one training
This is a very effective for assessing staff development. It helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of individuals. Some other benefits;
Provides a platform for individual staff members to discuss specific issues relevant to them.
One-on-one is the right environment for honest feedback.
Provides opportunity to reflect on an individual's work effort or results
Is the best way to conduct performance reviews and set new targets
Allows for improved rapport-building opportunities.
4. Team training
Often it's more practical to run training sessions in a group to create a positive dynamic. Some of the other benefits include;
Group interaction allows the business owner to identify leaders and followers
Allows for a variety of training methods. For example, Round Robin/ Give and Take, etc.
Easier to motivate a group due to multiple energies
Can set team targets and team incentives
5. Online training
For staff who are on the road or who don't come into the office, this can be a great way to keep in contact as well as stay up-to-date with what's happening in the field.
Many companies are using online training sessions and launches. This can be a very cost-effective way to run your team. Early morning breakfast calls are a great way of launching daily competitions and firing up your team.
Businesses use this medium as a low-cost way to not only communicate with their staff, but also to run training sessions and numerous other initiatives.
How to Develop Staff
Staff development revolves around;
identifying the performance 'gaps'
understanding the reasons for the gaps
implementing initiatives and programs to eradicate them
Developing your people and taking them to the next level of their professional growth is one of the most important and productive pursuits of any business owner. Here are some reasons why it should be a major focus;
Produces greater productivity
Will improve customer service and sales
Will lower staff turnover and recruiting costs
Will help improve workplace safety
Improves morale
In many instances, it's a legal necessity
Any business owner who sets out to develop their staff will be rewarded by the improved performance of these people. It simply requires a disciplined approach.
Staff development should be a key section within your business plan. Each staff member (including yourself) should have a personal file outlining their job description, ambitions, training needs along with any other relevant information pertinent to their current skill levels and relevant to the skills which need to be improved on. Each staff member should have their performance reviewed at regular intervals and a reward mechanism should be linked wherever possible.
Implementing effective staff development programs isn't difficult if the correct tools are available. Some of the tools at your disposal are:
Honest and open two-way discussion
Job description - written and agreed
Performance evaluation systems
Training - at the workplace and/or externally
Literature and information
Demonstrations
Reward and incentive systems
Career planning and personal growth
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