When conducted properly, training programs are valuable opportunities for employees to learn and grow their skills. In fact, research from PwC shows that 65 percent of Millennials view training and development opportunities as the number one factor in their decision to accept a job offer.

Regularly offering training programs benefits both your company and your employees. When you provide your team with the resources to succeed, they’ll reward you with the hard work and loyalty you need to remain competitive.

Avoid Making these 4 Training Mishaps

If you feel like your team isn’t getting much from the training opportunities you’re providing, you may be guilty of making the following four mistakes:

1. Assuming Everyone Learns the Same Way: There are countless approaches to training, so it’s important to realize people are going to respond to techniques differently. For example, Millennials and Generation X tend to prefer online training, while Baby Boomers feel more comfortable in a classroom setting. Please everyone by offering a combined approach that can benefit each type of learner.
2. Treating Training Budgets as Optional: When a company hits a rough patch, its training budget is often the first thing to go. However, management typically doesn’t realize the link between training and productivity. People are much more motivated to work hard when they know their employer cares enough to invest in them. Don’t risk efficiency to save a few dollars.
3. Providing an Information Overload: It’s very difficult for people to clear their calendars for multi-day intensive training courses. Doing so often leads to stress, as they’re forced to put in overtime to catch up on the work they missed. Avoid this by breaking training sessions up into smaller chunks that makes it easier to both manage their time and comprehend the material. No one learns well by having a ton of information thrown at them.
4. Focusing on the Hypothetical: Many employees view training as boring because they simply can’t relate to the material. Instead of taking a universal approach to teaching concepts, use examples they may actually encounter in their jobs. People become much more engaged in training when they can understand how the information can actually transmit to their jobs.

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