Different Methods of Training Employees
Effective employee training can have a major impact on your company's growth and profitability. Training can be provided in-house or by purchasing services from a training provider. Don't make the mistake of quickly launching a training program until you have investigated and understand the different training methods available today.
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On the Job Training
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Some companies cannot afford the time to take personnel away from their jobs and provide off site training. On the job training provides instructions at the workplace and is focused on training employees in techniques for their current jobs. The training is usually provided by a supervisor or others in a department.
According to MBA Knol, one advantage of on the job training is that the instruction is immediately reinforced by the employee performing the work he is trained for. A disadvantage is that there are often interruptions in the workplace, making it harder for the trainee to focus on the material that is being disseminated.
Lecture and Course-Based Training
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This type of training is conducted in a classroom environment or on line. The classroom version provides the trainee with an easy way to interact and exchange ideas with others in the class at scheduled times. Online training is often more flexible and allows the trainee to work when and where he wants to.
Lecture and course based training, whether in a classroom or on line, is often used to teach an employee new skills or update his current knowledge with new information.
One advantage of lecture- and course-based training is that the trainee can focus primarily on the material being provided. A disadvantage is that there is often a lag between the training sessions and time spent back on the real job.
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Role Playing
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Role playing is a training approach where the trainee pretends and acts in a hypothetical situation. For example, a supervisor could receive a description of an employee problem and interact with another class member who played the role of the supervisor experiencing the problem employee.
Role playing is often used to train others in personnel related management skills or other interactive environment such as training focused on team building.
Role playing provides an opportunity for a trainee to practice a behavior as if it is real. This behavior based approach often makes it easier for the trainee to exhibit the trained behavior in a real life situation.
Simulation
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Simulation training involves working in an environment that is similar to a real life situation. For example, pilots and astronauts practice first in simulators, enclosed containers that appear like the vehicle with controls they would normally fly. The pilot looks out a window that appears as if he was looking out a real cockpit window. Simulation provides an environment most closely matching a real life situation.
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