Great training is the lifeblood of a great a company, and the best in the world implement a superior learning management sytem into their business model. Even the most well-respected brands would crumble from the inside out without the right training strategies. An American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) study reports, “companies that invest in learning outperform the market by more than 45%. Companies that do not, under perform by 22%.” In short, investing in employee training means investing in the strength of a company, and an increasing number of organizations are applying this knowledge across all management levels. Here’s how some of the best in the world are doing it:

A Strong Foundation

Making learning management a company asset means teaching employees to operate on company-specific standards across all platforms. Employees come from different professional backgrounds and working environments. For example, the phrase “customer service” can mean two very different things to two different employees. Even more dangerous is to assume that all employees are familiar with basic customer service skills. If this is an important part of the company, coaching the desired standard of customer service from the beginning is a must. Some companies will rely on IT and systems like Cornerstone learning management software to execute the right training to a sizeable employee base.

Repetition

A three-day corporate training course won’t produce results if those days are the only time employees practice their new skills. That’s why companies who successfully invest in employee training do so repeatedly, and over an extended period of time. Behaviors and skills don’t develop overnight, which is why training over multiple sessions, and often repeating or reiterating the same information is so vital. Dedicate a certain number of hours each week, or day, to focusing on training specific skills. Few people will use the new computer software purchased, regardless of how helpful it is, unless they’re given structured, supervised time to practice. Ideally on a regular basis. The more knowledgeable employees are, the more power they’ll contribute to the company as a whole.

Optimal Training Times

Training anyone to do anything under rushed or stressful circumstances is an ineffective approach to learning management. Employee training is no different. Cramming training sessions in at the end of a long workday or during the busiest quarter is completely counter-productive. Employees are more likely to retain information when they have sufficient time to process and digest the data they’re learning. Conducting longer sessions during the slower periods of the year, and limiting training when employees are more likely to be stressed, will make it more probable that they’ll retain the information.

Train All Levels

One of the best ways learning management can strengthen an entire company is when it’s applied to all management levels. In addition to marketing and sales training, seminars and case study sessions on communication and interpersonal skills are an effective way to strengthen communication throughout a company’s chain of command. Successful companies disseminate information among employees in a way that makes sense. For example, training all employees on the new software within a few days of each other creates a much more efficient operation than if you train various groups over a several weeks.

Continued Learning Management

Learning is a process. In order for employees to absorb training, resources and tools for them to seek assistance or clarification must be provided. This can be in anything from liability contracts to shipping standards. The point is, if employees can’t ask questions, they won’t retain the training, and a company won’t benefit on its investment.

The Importance of Employee Training is a Guest Article courtesy of Jon Dean