How to Teach a Job Skill

If you need to take an employee and show him how to perform a set of tasks, whether it be training on a computer software program or how to assemble an electronic component, follow these steps for sure success.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• patience
• job skill literature
• pen and paper

1. Assessment - If the person is someone you have never met before, spend a few minutes talking to him. Ask simple questions to ensure he understands you. If there is a language barrier and you are concerned that he may not comprehend English, obtain a bilingual assistant to help communicate the job task to him before going forward.
2. Description - Explain in simple terms how you will complete the task that you are training her on. Ask that she repeat back in her own words, what you were explaining. If her feedback is not inclusive enough to convince you that she understands, take the time to repeat your verbal description. Repeat this step as many times as necessary.
3. Demonstrate before you let him complete the task. Demonstration - Show the employee how to perform the tasks as you describe what you are doing. Do the task slowly and completely. If it is very detailed, ask him to write down notes or steps as you demonstrate them. If you are explaining how to create a presentation on the computer, allow him to see exactly what keys you are using on the keyboard and which prompts you are responding to on the screen.
4. Supervised Performance - Allow the employee to demonstrate to you, how to perform the skill in detail and allow him to take as much time as he needs to perform this. He should explain to you what he is doing as he demonstrates his new skill. If he makes a mistake or gets stuck, help him by showing him the correct sequence and task. Repeat this step as needed.
5. Individual Performance - After you have “worked out the bugs” in his task performance, allow him to do it by himself and you can come back and check on him. Retrain here on anything that is confusing or difficult. Remember that it will take time and practice for him to do the skill at a normal pace and you need to be patient. Some will perform perfectly after only a brief session while others may take days to get it exactly right.
6. Follow Up and Feedback - Recheck to see that the employee is doing the job properly on a less and less frequent interval and be absolutely sure to give him lots of positive feedback and praise for a job well learned and ultimately, well done.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a checklist if the skill is very detailed and have the trainee and trainer sign off on the list.