Businesses are increasingly investing in training and development for their employees. Not only is it an investment in the employee's success, but also an investment in your company's success.
This blog will explore the different methods of training employees, tips and best practices for employee training. We'll also show you how to create effective training materials (like training manuals) and improve your employee training programs.
TL;DR: Methods for training employees
- Different training methods include on-the-job training, classroom-style training, eLearning, simulations, mentoring and coaching, job rotation, case studies, role-playing, gamification, cross-training, webinars, job aids, team-based training, instructor-led training, and self-paced learning.
- Using tools or building a database improves training programs' consistency, scalability, and flexibility.
- Employee training benefits include increased productivity, satisfaction, and retention.
- Scribe is the best platform for effective training materials creation, organization and sharing.
Create AI-powered employee training materials for free ➜
What are the methods for training employees?
Training methods are the techniques used to impart knowledge and skills to employees to enhance their performance and productivity. When designing and delivering employee training, use a variety of training methods tailored to the learner's individual needs, learning style, prior knowledge, and experience.
The best methods for training employees depend on many factors, including your objectives, target audience and your available resources.
The top 15 methods for training employees
- On-the-job training
- Classroom-style training
- eLearning
- Simulations
- Mentoring and coaching
- Job rotation
- Case studies
- Role-playing
- Gamification
- Cross-training
- Webinars
- Job aids
- Team-based training
- Instructor-led training
- Self-paced learning
There are many ways to design effective employee training to keep things fun and interesting while covering the basics. Let's explore the most effective training methods and techniques.
1. On-the-job training
On-the-job training (OJT) involves learning while performing actual job tasks, allowing employees to gain hands-on experience and practical skills.
OJT can be especially effective when an employee needs to learn new skills quickly. It's also used when new employees do not have the skills necessary to perform their jobs independently but are still required to complete tasks daily. We recommend setting KPIs to monitor the success of this training.
2. Classroom-style training
This traditional method involves conducting training sessions in a classroom setting, where employees learn through lectures, presentations, and discussions.
Traditional training methods like classroom training are effective because they allow instructors to get feedback from participants and provide immediate feedback on their performance. However, it’s expensive and time-consuming for employers because it requires instructors and facilities.
3. eLearning
With the advancement of technology, eLearning has become one of the most popular online training methods. It uses online platforms, training videos, and interactive modules to deliver training content.
Companies can use e-learning modules as part of onboarding programs or as stand-alone training sessions throughout the year. This method allows businesses to provide employees with an affordable way to learn about topics that are relevant at work but may not be part of their job description.
4. Simulations
Simulation training provides a realistic environment for employees to practice their skills and decision-making abilities. They can be used for various purposes, such as customer service training or emergency response training.
5. Mentoring and coaching
This method pairs employees with experienced mentors or coaches who provide 1:1 training, guidance, support, and feedback to help them develop their skills.
An example of this could be a manager who mentors an employee. They can do this to help improve their leadership skills to become more effective in their role or even move up within the company hierarchy.
6. Job rotation
Job rotation involves moving employees across different organizational roles and departments. This workplace training method helps employees better understand the business and develop diverse skills.
7. Case studies
The case study method involves analyzing real-life scenarios and discussing possible solutions. This method encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
8. Role-playing
Role-playing allows employees to practice their skills and behaviors in simulated situations. It helps improve communication, teamwork, and customer service skills.
9. Gamification
Gamification involves incorporating game elements into training programs, such as points, badges and leaderboards. It makes learning more engaging and interactive.
10. Cross-training
Cross-training involves training employees in multiple roles or functions. This method helps increase flexibility and adaptability within the workforce.
11. Webinars
Webinars are online seminars that allow employees to participate in training sessions remotely. Digital training methods like webinars provide flexibility and convenience for both trainers and trainees.
12. Job aids
Job aids are tools or resources that provide quick reference or guidance to employees while performing their tasks. They can be in the form of checklists, flowcharts, or manuals.
13. Team-based training
This method involves training employees in groups or teams. Team-building exercises and workshops promote collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills.
14. Instructor-led training
Instructor-led training involves a trainer leading a session and can be conducted in person or virtually.
15. Self-paced learning
Self-paced learning allows employees to learn at their own pace through modules or courses.
Build employee training materials in seconds with Scribe ➜
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Blended learning: the most effective method for employee training
By combining these varied training methods, you can create a comprehensive and effective training program that meets the diverse learning needs of your employees.
A blended delivery approach is one of the most effective training methods. Blended learning provides access to in-person and online training, combining different training content, repetition and content variety.
The benefits of blended learning include:
- Personalized learning opportunities improve learning effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
- Blended workplace learning enhances employee knowledge and performance.
- Repetition and variety in learning methodologies are key factors for optimal training outcomes.
A corporate wiki, database, knowledge base, or Learning Management System (LMS) can facilitate a blended delivery approach, along with a variety of interactive and engaging training methods and materials.
Benefits of using digital tools and platforms for training
Using employee training software, AI tools or a database can significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of employee training programs. There are many benefits associated with using tools or building a database, including:
- Increased consistency across the company.
- Everyone learns from the same information and follows the same procedures.
- Easy transition when someone leaves the company as the new person can pick up where they left off.
- Increases scalability by allowing quick updates to training materials.
- Reduces overhead costs associated with creating new materials for each new employee.
- Improves accessibility for all employees to access training opportunities regardless of location or role within the company.
Try Scribe's free AI-powered Employee Training Generator to build high-quality training materials—fast.
You can use Scribe's AI tools to develop onboarding programs, skill-building modules, compliance training, and more.
Selecting the best methods for training employees
When selecting the best types of employee training methods, there are many factors you should consider. Here are some tips to keep in mind when designing and implementing your training program:
1. Identify training needs
First, identify your organization's needs and then set goals for your employees that align with those needs.
These can include the training objectives, your target audience, the topics being covered, available resources, and any time restrictions.
For example, if you want someone on your team to learn how to use social media marketing tools, that’s what you should teach them in their training session. If they already know how to use those tools but want to learn more about effective advertising strategies, then that’s what they should focus on during their training session.
2. Consider your audience
Different people learn in different ways. Keep these questions in mind when developing your workplace training programs:
- Who are you training?
- What are their prior knowledge and experience?
- What are their learning styles?
3. Determine your training methods
You can use a combination of training techniques and methods to achieve your training objectives.
The right training methods will depend on your organization's specific needs, learning styles, goals, budget, and time constraints.
- What do you want your employees to learn by the end of the training?
- What specific skills and knowledge do you want them to develop?
- What budget and resources do you have available for training?
- Where and when will the training take place?
- How long will it last?
The method you choose should align with your training objectives and the needs of your employees.
4. Set clear goals & objectives
Before you begin your training, make sure you have clearly defined objectives. These objectives should be written down and agreed upon by all parties involved in the training process. This will help prevent any miscommunications later on in the process.
5. Automate your employee training
Using technology to automate the delivery and management of employee training programs can save you valuable time and costs.
Knowledge-sharing software like Scribe automates the process of generating employee training materials. With Scribe, you can automatically generate step-by-step employee training materials as you work, complete with text and annotated screenshots that can be easily updated and tailored to your needs.
Automated training tools like an LMS or blended learning tools can deliver and manage your eLearning courses, track employee progress and generate reports.
Automate training materials in seconds with Scribe ➜
6. Provide feedback & support
Employees must know their contributions are valued, so providing feedback after each training session is essential. It also helps reinforce the importance of learning new skills.
In addition to regular direct feedback from managers or other employees, employees can develop feedback loops by setting personal goals during training sessions or evaluating their performance against those goals at the end of each session.
7. Measure success & evaluate effectiveness
Knowing if your training program is working well or needs adjustments is essential. For example, you can track whether an employee has mastered specific skills or learned enough information during a particular session. Also, measure the effectiveness of training programs compared to similar programs in other companies to determine if you must make changes before rolling out further initiatives.
With the right training program, you can increase productivity and customer satisfaction while reducing turnover and absenteeism.
organize & share training materials with Scribe
Creating, managing and sharing training materials can be a time-consuming process. If you're at a large company with many employees, it's even more challenging to make sure everyone has the same resources available to them. That's where Scribe can help.
Scribe makes it easy to create and deliver interactive, multimedia-rich eLearning content. A simple drag-and-drop interface allows users to create a wide range of learning materials, including presentations, quizzes and simulations.
- Auto-generate step-by-step training flows: Scribe automatically generates training materials as you walk through any process, breaking down learning content into clear and concise instructions.
- Annotated screenshots: Add annotated screenshots to your documents to provide visual aids that help users understand the process better.
- Multi-media support: With Scribe Pages, you can include various media types, including images, videos, and animated GIFs, to create more engaging and interactive training materials.
- Collaboration: Scribe allows team members to collaborate on documents in real time, making it easier to work together to create an effective employee training program.
- Ease of use: Scribe is designed to be easy to use, even for those without technical skills or training.
- Secure sensitive information: You can set permissions to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive or confidential training materials. Scribe Pro users can also blur images and redact sensitive details.
- Easily organize your training content into sections and categories, allowing you to manage your microlearning courses.
Here's an example of a Scribe demonstrating how to create a custom task rule in Asana:
Once you've created and organized your training materials, you can quickly share your workplace training with specific team members or groups.
Simply add your team to your Scribe workspace, share the training via a link, or embed Scribes directly into other tools like LMSs, wikis or knowledge bases. You can also export your training to PDF, HTML or Markdown.
FAQs
What are the three most common methods for training employees?
Three of the most common and highly effective methods are on-the-job training, classroom training, and eLearning.
- On-the-job training: Teaching employees skills while they work, with feedback from experienced colleagues or supervisors.
- Classroom training: Traditional setting with lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities for theoretical concepts, technical skills, or compliance-related topics.
- eLearning: Online training using digital platforms to deliver materials like interactive modules, videos, quizzes, and simulations, allowing employees to learn at their own pace from anywhere with an internet connection.
Which training method is most effective for training employees?
On-the-job training (OJT) is widely recognized as one of the most effective methods for training employees.
- OJT provides employees with hands-on experience and guidance while performing their job tasks.
- Employees can learn by doing, leading to a deeper understanding and retention of knowledge and skills.
- OJT's practical nature enables employees to apply what they learn in a real-world setting immediately.
- Provides personalized instruction and feedback from experienced colleagues or supervisors.
- Promotes a culture of continuous learning within the organization.
- Research has shown that OJT can lead to higher job satisfaction and employee engagement levels.
What are the benefits of employee training & development?
- Increased productivity: Employees who receive training are more productive as they know how to use the tools and processes that are most appropriate for their jobs.
- Employee satisfaction: Training provides employees with new skills or knowledge, improving their self-confidence and boosting morale, leading to higher job satisfaction.
- Retention: Training helps companies retain top performers by keeping them up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in their professions or industries, making them feel valued by the company.
Wrapping up
By incorporating these effective methods for training employees into your employee training programs, you can improve consistency, scalability and flexibility. Sign up for Scribe today and build high-quality training materials in seconds.
