Using Online Staff Training to Increase Skills
24 October 2019
Using technology in your business, like online staff training, is a great way to improve productivity and use the modern era to your advantage. Nowadays, there are so many options for using the internet, technology and new inventions to improve the workplace as well as the employees working in it. One of these options is to use online applications and reputable sources to conduct your staff training online, rather than in person or in house. This is a wonderful option for so many different reasons.
For businesses that are centred around computers or online work, it’s one of the only viable options for staff training and development. Even companies who do a lot of practical work can benefit from online staff training. It’s an easy way to complete training without having to block off massive chunks of time and space to do so. In this article, we look at the many ways your business can take advantage of online staff training to increase skills in the workplace.
Save Time by Training Online
One of the biggest benefits of training your staff online is the amount of time that it can save. Training is certainly a worthwhile investment of your staff’s time, but it’s best to ensure that it doesn’t eat away at the day too much. In the past, online training may have actually been a source of time-wasting and ineffective training. However, today there are dozens of online learning platforms specifically designed for online staff training. With the option to train directly on a computer or even on mobile devices, staff are able to complete their training in the workplace or at home.
Online training is often tailored to the learner’s specific set of skills and pre-existing knowledge, thus saving time by avoiding unnecessary or repetitive information. With a flexible schedule, staff have the option to learn whenever it suits them best, often given a final deadline to complete their training by. Not to mention, this flexibility allows staff to go over their information and review it as much as necessary. Compared to in-person training, which is often conducted at one time only, or during specific periods of time, online training makes it much easier for staff to complete their learning at their own pace. Online training usually leaves staff with much more knowledge retained because of this.
Keep Track of Your Employees’ Progress
Online training is one of the most effective ways to gather data about your employees and really check out their progress. With in-person training, it’s difficult to get anything more than a subjective opinion or view of the employee’s progress. However, using online tests and analytics, it’s very easy to see where your employees are, what needs to be improved and what parts of the training have been strongly understood. Online training is often self-directed or automated, which cuts down on the amount of time that needs to be spent learning each subject. This advancement also allows employers to check how their staff is progressing through the training.
Giving a general deadline and allowing staff to do the training on their own time can allow you to check-in with staff who are behind or commend the staff who are moving along at a quick pace. In-person training can be difficult to track, and it is easier for people to fall behind without being noticed. With online training, employers can be sure that every staff member has completed the training and easily view the weak points.
For businesses that have multiple locations, maybe even internationally, online training is one of the only viable options. Online training and online learning platforms allow employers to keep up to date with all their employees, no matter how numerous they are. It also offers a platform for connection between employees in different locations.
Make Sure You Set Goals and Stay Up To Date
One of the only problems with online training is that staff are left on their own, to study independently. If instructors and employers are not highly attentive, it may be easy for some members of staff to fall behind throughout the online staff training. That’s why it is essential for an employer to stay up to date with their staff’s training and set goals for them. Training without goals and new expectations is not as effective. When you set goals, it allows staff to see tangible results of their training. Use the online training, as well as specific things that are relevant to your workplace, in order to set goals for staff.
It’s important to keep in mind that a combination of both online training and face-to-face strategies work best for staff training. Since teams usually consist of different kinds of people, it’s hard to anticipate the learning styles of everyone. Using a combination of both strategies ensures that everyone is accounted for and has a way to learn ideally. Having online training as a part of your training programme can allow for less wasted time and less management intervention. However, it’s necessary to combine this with practical training, goal setting and staying up to date with each staff member.
In conclusion, it’s essential to take some time and evaluate your business’ specific needs when it comes to training programmes. There are so many ways to undertake staff training, as well as many different forms it can come in. To find the right fit for your business, make sure that you communicate with staff, management and human resources departments. It’s crucial to get the input of everyone involved in the workplace. Online training is a wonderful option that can allow you to get the training done quickly and keep track of your employees’ progress very closely.
Online training programmes are usually accessible anywhere, no matter where your business is physically located. It can be a great option for business owners who do not want to travel elsewhere in order to complete their staff’s training. Don’t be afraid to make use of technology and its amazing capabilities.
