There’s no denying that intelligent staff training and development decisions can be the difference between business success and failure. Organisations of all shapes and sizes continue to invest in training their staff for a range of different reasons. Not only do better-qualified staff result in a more productive and agile workforce, but development and progression also have a major impact on staff satisfaction and happiness. Through this, businesses can help improve employee loyalty, increase staff retention and attract the best talent to their organisation.
However, to gain all of these advantages, the planning process must be robust. In this guide, we are going to look at the most important points to consider before you start a staff development event or sessions. Using these tips, you should be able to ensure that your training is as beneficial as possible.
Goal and Learning Outcome
Firstly, every time you organise a staff development activity or session, you should have a clear goal in mind. For business owners, these goals usually centre around developing specific skills within staff members, usually ones which are key to your industry or have been identified as lacking within the business. Common learning outcomes include problem-solving, communication, teamwork, critical thinking and resource management, though the truth is that training and development events can target any skill at all.
The reason why a clear goal matters so much, is that different activities and events are effective at developing different skills. You should be fully aware of exactly what you are trying to achieve from your event so that you can pick the right venue, speakers and event to get you to that destination. Without this clear sense of purpose, it’s easy to get lost and make decisions based on ‘instinct’ rather than based on a tangible target.
Learning Styles Amongst Your Staff
Secondly, it is essential to consider how your staff actually learn. There are multiple learning styles out there, with most people overlapping between a few but there is evidence to show that certain industries are dominated by specific learning styles. For example, hands-on, practical learning has been shown to help staff and students in the construction industry more than formal lectures.
By keeping the learning preferences of your staff in mind you are more likely to create an event which engages them and remains in their memory. There’s nothing worse than spending money on a training day or team building event, only for your team to find it unenjoyable or uninspiring. Take your time and find the right event for your workforce.
Size and Venue
Finally, once you know what you are trying to achieve and what type of event will work best for your staff, you will also have to consider the size of your occasion and find an activity which works. For small teams and organisations, size and venue aren’t usually a problem as most settings will be able to host 50 people for a fun occasion. The challenges more commonly arise for larger businesses with hundreds of staff members. For these organisations, the best plan is to find your activity and ask the company who is organising for you for recommendations on venue and setting in the local area. Alternatively, you can find the venue first and then pick an event itinerary that works around your location – it’s entirely up to you.
If you keep these considerations in mind, you are sure to organise a beneficial staff development day which staff remember and talk about for months to come. Just ensure that you plan properly rather than rushing into things.
