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15 Topics That Add Value To (Basic) Employee Training Programs

Forbes Human Resources Council

Your employee training program documents may look good on paper, but is it actually benefiting your current employees or new hires who want to succeed at what they do and giving them the opportunity to grow in real-time? 

In addition to presenting employees with a step-by-step how-to list of policies and procedures, oftentimes, HR leaders fail to include any guidance on emotional intelligence and other practical skills that can be honed further and are key to helping employees do a good job.

That's why 15 experts from Forbes Human Resources Council share some topics for training programs that will enable team members to acclimate and prevent unforeseen issues down the road.

1. Cross-Cultural Social Skills

As we become more digitized, social and emotional skills are becoming even more fundamental to business success. The ability to work effectively with others, particularly in cross-cultural settings, is critical to attaining business objectives. - Loren Rosario-Maldonado, Claro Enterprise Solutions, Inc.

2. Coaching

One area that is often overlooked by HR leaders, yet important to prevent issues down the line is coaching. Solicit alignment for the training program and its content from people managers. Managers need to support, reinforce and coach the training both before the program and after the program. If this important aspect is missed, both time and investment can be lost. - Elizabeth Corey, Velosio

3. Performance Management

Many companies scrambled, reactively hiring in 2021 while being impacted by the "Great Resignation." Now, some of these hires may not be working out. In the remote work era, performance management should be part of new hire training. Training on new models for performance management with tighter timelines and set goals for 30- 60- and 90-day check-ins from the start is critical for successful remote onboarding. - Camille Fetter, Talentfoot Executive Search

4. Company Culture

Employee training programs often focus on the "what" and overlook the "how." Training incoming employees, especially in a remote onboarding environment, on cultural norms and how we do things here is just as crucial to their success. Every organization operates differently with many unspoken expectations that may seem foreign to new employees. Including content on cultural competence is critical. - Katya Daniel, Golden Hippo

5. Accountability

HR departments need to help managers understand how they can lead excellence with accountability. If they hold themselves accountable for the numbers that reflect the employee experience, they will create the kind of employee experience that makes them stand out from the rest. - Lisa Toppin, Illumina

6. Adaptability

Adaptability should be a priority for employee and leadership training programs. Now, more than ever, the business world needs to unlearn any unproductive behaviors and processes. Adapting to novel situations will help any organization adjust to changes as they occur and allow them to move forward instead of being left behind because members couldn’t keep up with new developments. - Graham Glass, CYPHER LEARNING

7. Organizational Alignment

A topic that HR leaders should consider adding to their training programs is organizational alignment and how it works across different groups within the same company. This type of instruction goes beyond simple organizational charts by educating employees on how different business units and individual roles indirectly support company strategy, cross-functional synergy and ultimately, customer satisfaction. - Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, BMC Software


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8. Workplace Expectations

Both leaders and individual contributors must learn to effectively communicate their expectations. When the expectations of managers and employees are not aligned or not clearly understood, the issues that result may look like performance or behavior problems when this may not be the case. Learning to effectively communicate expectations up front is key to avoiding misunderstandings. - Laura Doner, Riverchase Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery

9. Employee Burnout Prevention

HR leaders should implement training programs that focus on helping employees avoid burnout. In our post-Covid-19 work environment, where many employees are still working from home, creating clear boundaries between work and home is of utmost importance to the well-being of our workforce. Leaders also need to be trained on what to do if they have an employee who is showing signs of potential burnout. - Raven Lee, Kapsch TrafficCom USA, Inc.

10. Emotional Intelligence

A big topic that is often overlooked in employee training programs is emotional intelligence in the workplace. Employees may be technically brilliant in their roles but can lack the skills to decipher nuances in body language, understand the true meaning of messages underneath the words or lack the ability to tune in and monitor one's own emotions. These skills are so important for future success. - Melissa Banek, IMC - Trading

11. Opportunities For Human Connection

In the bid of embracing AI and reducing costs through service centers, some organizations have relegated training programs to bots and online courses. Implementing periodic human connection time with users to review the relevance of information and feedback can help to improve the sustainability of the program. - Mofoluwaso Ilevbare, Primary Connect

12. Additional Learning Programs

A training needs assessment (TNA) is often done by line managers who at times are threatened by competent subordinates, as they may not have a defined career path for themselves. Hence, rather than managers honing talent appropriately, direct reports are often sent for training programs that do not add any value to their experience. Therefore, leaders must complement the TNA with a skills assessment at the nomination stage itself to weed out irrelevant training requests. - Rohit Manucha, SIH AGH

13. Collaboration Skills

Every organization values teamwork. So, train employees to collaborate effectively. Teach people to listen more and talk less and provide and receive feedback. Strong collaboration skills will go a long way when employees work together on critical company initiatives. - Maria Leggett, MHI

14. Measurement Of Success

Often, training programs are implemented based on need, but the proper mechanisms have not been put in place to truly measure its success. Success goes beyond employees saying that training went well. Organizations need to see how these sessions play out in productivity and to which degree any challenges have been reduced. Measurable assessments and metrics help do just that. - Tiersa Smith-Hall, The Hartling Group

15. Business Communication

Provide employees resources and training on how to communicate to their peers, direct reports and manager through email, over the phone, in person and over Zoom. Understanding how to write and speak in all forms and at all company levels with a business acumen should be essential to employee training. - Kelsey Schnittgen, Mission Critical Solutions

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