Think About Training More Creatively

Received a note recently that asked whether we should continue training employees during tougher economic times. My immediate visceral reaction was, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???????" I know. Hardly mature.

But, when will employers figure out that there will never be a time when you cannot afford to continue to train and develop employees. They are your most significant resource. And, there may lay the rub. Maybe you say they are, but, in reality, you think of your employees - and you treat your employees - as an expense. Bad. Bad.

Okay, I'll give you a break. Maybe you have fewer dollars to invest in sending employees to conferences and seminars. In reality, unless you employ methods to share that training with the rest of your employees when the trainee returns, this is not cost effective, and may not even be productive, training.

The exception I would make is for new skill training such as learning concepts that no one has been exposed to yet or training on machines not yet present in your company.

Non-traditional Training Options

Your employee training can encompass so much more than classes and seminars if you think about training broadly and creatively. There has never been a better time to expand your definition of training.

I started out my private sector career in training and the topic has remained near and dear to me because of its potential to transform lives and business results. My article about training for retention and development is worth reading.

In it, I pinpoint numerous opportunities to train employees beyond the traditional seminars and conferences. Many of the methods cost less, provide employees with concrete, on-the-job training and knowledge, and stretch employee skills through such processes as job enrichment.

I am also a big fan of employee book clubs at work. The company purchases a selected book for a group of volunteer employees who meet weekly to discuss the concepts they are learning.

Additionally, done effectively, the second topic in each discussion session, is how to apply the concepts read about in your company. The book club brings knowledge, new ideas, and team building to the group participating. Try one. These employers did.

Finally, the power of coaching and mentoring by peers and colleagues as a method for training and developing staff is an opportunity whose potential has barely been explored in most organizations. But, they have the potential to revolutionize employee development. See the other best on-the-job training methods and opportunities.

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