Importance of Training and Development for employees - Written by Sewwandi Wijesekara
Introduction
Employees are the backbone of the organization. The accomplishments or issues experienced by the organization are contingent to the performance of its employees (Mwema & Gachunga, 2014). Therefore, it is vital for organizational leaders to recognize the importance of training and development in employee performance and evaluation. Enhanced capabilities, knowledge, and skills are the foundation for the organization’s competitive advantage in today’s global market.
Although a large number of research have been accomplished in the field of training and development in employee performance, it appears that organizational leaders still experience gaps and challenges in this regard. For this reason, the goal of this article is to provide concise information about the concept of employee training, development, performance, and evaluation, as well as the reasons, impacts, approaches, benefits, and guidelines when implementing effective employee training and development opportunities, which ultimately enhance employee performance.
Importance of Training and Development for employees
Organizations aspire to be successful through differentiated programs, services, capabilities, and products. However, such elements need to be envisioned, developed, implemented, and sustained by well-trained individuals. According to the State of the Industry report published by the Association for Talent Development, the direct expenditure per employee on training and development has increased for the past three years. Efforts on employee training and development demonstrate that organizations are capitalizing not only on high potential employees, but also on individuals who can commit to achieving higher levels of responsibilities. According to Feldman (as cited by Jehanzeb & Bashir, 2013), this requires emotional agreement, meaning that the organization and individuals will partner in achieving long-term commitment through career advancement and training opportunities.
Employee training and development is one of the most significant motivators used to help both individuals and organizations in achieving their short-term and long-term goals and objectives. Training and development not only enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes, but it also offers several other benefits. The following are common benefits of employee training and development, according to Nassazi (2013): Training and development increases employees’ morale, confidence, and motivations., It lowers production costs because individuals are able to reduce waste. It promotes a sense of security which in turn reduces turnover and absenteeism. It increases employees’ involvement in the change process by providing the competencies necessary to adjust to new and challenging situations. It opens the doors for recognition, higher pay, and promotion. It helps the organization in improving the availability and quality of its staff. It is noteworthy to remember that individuals become more productive (Bapna, Langer, Mehra, Gopal, & Gupta, 2013),
Training and development programs improve individuals’ skills and abilities. Training and development programs help individuals in learning the soft, functional, and technical skills necessary to perform their jobs. They achieve higher level of job satisfaction, because they feel they are investing in their own future. They feel that their role within the organization has a real purpose. Since the individuals’ loyalty tends to increase substantially, they invest more of their time and effort in achieving the bottom line for the organization.
Conclusion
Employees are the most valuable asset of the organization as they take responsibility for enhanced customer satisfaction and quality of products and services. Without proper training and development opportunities, they would not be able to accomplish their tasks at their full potential. Employees who are fully capable to perform their job-related tasks tend to keep their jobs longer due to higher job satisfaction.
Training and development are a vital tool used to not only maximize the performance of employees. but also, to help them in becoming more efficient, productive, satisfied, motivated, and innovative in the workplace (Elnaga & Imran, 2013).
Reference
Mwema, N. W., & Gachunga, H. G. (2014). The influence of performance appraisal on employee productivity in organizations: A case study of selected WHO offices in East Africa. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1(11), 324-337.
Jehanzeb, K., & Bashir, N. A. (2013). Training and development program and its benefits to employee and organization: A conceptual study. European Journal of Business and Management, 5(2), 243-252.
Nassazi, N. (2013). Effects of training on employee performance: Evidence from Uganda (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Applied Sciences, Vassa, Finland.
Bapna, R., Langer, N., Mehra, A., Gopal, R., & Gupta, A. (2013). Human capital investments and employee performance: An analysis of IT services industry. Management Science, 59(3). 641-658.
Elnaga, A., & Imran, A. (2013). The Effect of Training on Employee Performance. European Journal of Business and Management, 5(4), 137-147.
Well organized content describing the training and development mechanism in the workforce. In much consideration with the global context of employee behavior's, what specific advantages does investing in employee training and development bring in terms of employee morale, skill development, and overall performance? How does it contribute to an organization's competitive advantage?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much of your valuable comment. Yeah, Companies that offer employee development opportunities are more likely to attract top talent than those that do not. In order to maintain their competitive advantage, companies are further required to implement best-in-class employee training programs – not merely training for the sake of training. and also, Companies that invest in their employees’ development also foster a sense of loyalty and make their employees feel valued. Employees who feel valued are far more motivated and engaged at work and are more likely to stay on and bolster the company’s brand in their personal networks.
DeleteReplacing employees can be costly – from recruitment to training (companies spend approximately six to nine months of the employee’s salary to replace them), to decreases in market position, profitability, revenue and engagement levels. Better career development opportunities could lead to a lower turnover rate. Employees who stay ahead of the curve are better equipped to respond appropriately to market changes as they happen, ultimately leading to the long-term success of a company. Thus, companies who invest in the development of their staff also invest in their own future success.
Great explanation. Low unemployment rates, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find and keep skilled workers. What are some things can do from a training and development perspective to reduce turnover rate?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your consideration. You’re smart to be concerned, and even smarter to take a proactive approach. Training and development are a key component to your retention strategy. Too often employers see training and development as a flexible benefit. During tough times, training and development is often cut back or eliminated. And, during busy times, organizations often find there isn’t enough time for training. For example, training can be done internally, conducted by the resident expert. Even mentoring is another low-cost way to engage employees, in a win-win environment. The mentor feels recognized for his/her experience and expertise, and the employee being mentored gains exposure and training that will help them with their next position.
DeleteSome of the tips can using for reducing turnover. Such as, Succession planning and emerging leader programs, Supervisory training, General training across the organization (i.e., customer service, new technology) and A formal career development program can implement for reduce turnover in your organization.
This article brilliantly highlights the paramount importance of training and development for employees within organizations. The thorough exploration of its benefits, from enhancing skills and morale to reducing turnover and fostering loyalty, underscores the profound positive impact it has on both individuals and the organization as a whole. The comprehensive understanding of how training and development contribute to job satisfaction, productivity, and organizational success showcases a deep grasp of these crucial concepts. This article serves as an insightful and compelling reminder of the transformative power that investing in employee growth can have on achieving long-term goals and fostering a thriving work environment.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your expectations shared with me
DeleteDifferent delivery methods, including as classroom instruction, online instruction, and on-the-job training, are available for training and development. Depending on their personal needs and preferred learning style, each employee will respond best to a different format.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your valuable expectations shared with me. On-the-job training often abbreviated is a hands-on method to obtain proficiency, knowledge, and skills required to ace a job in a real-life working environment. For example, an organization provides training on-the-job for new employees to get accustomed to specific devices, tools, or equipment needed in the work field. There are four main types of learning styles, but many people overlap with two or even three styles. The different styles of learning are based on the VARK method.
DeleteThe VARK method includes visual, auditory, read/ write and kinaesthetic learning styles.
Kinaesthetic learners prefer a hands-on approach to learning, and this involves using all five senses – touch, sight, smell, sound and taste. They learn effectively when they perform the task themselves and enjoy sessions that include group-based participation.
well-structured and specified article. An excellent topic to discuss is training and development since training makes work flawless. I think now is the appropriate moment to discuss new training techniques and technologies.
ReplyDeleteYeah absolutely, Technology has impacted almost every aspect of our lives and training and development is no exception. It is redefining workforce learning methods and tools, allowing organizations to nurture their talent in the most effective way. Advanced software, technology tools, and innovative methods are being used to enhance training program’s quality, participation and engagement as well as to enable corporate training to be a more personalized experience.
DeleteThank you for your expectations shared with me Nalin. Yeah, right in other hand, providing training to employees is an important element of a successful organization. It offers the chance for employees to learn new skills, enhance their knowledge and understand more about the company. Here are several reasons that employee training is a vital component of a successful organization. employee training essential to an organization is providing learning for career growth and promotion.
ReplyDeleteWell organized content.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your consideration.
DeleteWell structured . Employee training and development programs are critical for enhancing employee performance. How training and development impact enhance employee performance ?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your valuable comment to me Sachini, Employee training and development are widely found to improve an employee’s performance. Organizations offer many training and development opportunities for their employees, whether that be online courses, or in-person courses.
DeleteThe most common types of training and development opportunities offered to employees are apprenticeships, management training, mentoring programs, new employee training, and sales training. those tips can use for enhancing employee performance in organization.
Prepares employees for new responsibilities: 😃
Whether employees are being trained in other roles, so they can better understand the responsibilities of their colleagues and develop a more holistic approach to the organization, or they are being trained, so they can move into new roles, training and development opportunities prepares employees for new responsibilities if they ever need to take them on.
Not only do training and development programs help employees develop the skills needed for their current roles but can teach them leadership skills and other vital knowledge needed to progress in the future. Apprenticeship is a common form of training that recruits employees as trainees with the goal to progress them to a higher role.
Teaches employees about updates in the industry and technology: 😃
Training and development programs also keep employees up to date on changes happening in their industry, and on matters such as safety, ethics, or quality standards.
They can also teach employees about updated technology and new processes, as well as how to stay safe while using these systems, i.e., being aware of cybersecurity. Being up to date on what is expected of them within their role and becoming comfortable with new efficient technologies leads to better outcomes all round.
Prepares employees for remote working: 😃
As organizations move away from traditional office working, training and development focusing on working remotely effectively and teaching employees about new processes when working from home can make the transition from office working to home working smoother.
Refreshes employees’ memories: 😃
While all new employees will receive training as part of the onboarding process, it is also beneficial for more tenured employees to have refreshers on basic training. What was taught to an employee when they first joined is often easier to understand once they’re familiar with the organization and their role.
These updates also provide opportunities to refresh diversity, equity and inclusion training, and organizations often require annual training courses on issues such as legal compliance and anti-harassment policies.
It is an interesting article to go through, and as you said, training and development are a vital tool used to not only maximise the performance of employees but also to help them become more efficient, productive, satisfied, motivated, and innovative in the workplace. As stated by Topno, H (2012) after discussing a lot of the models for evaluating training and development, it can be suggested that there are enough models for training evaluation. They should be further modified by giving their main indicators and explaining each issue properly so that evaluation of training and development can be properly carried out with greater effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nuwan for your expectations shared with me. well said, Training and development are most effective motivating and retaining high quality human resources within organization. (Kate Hutchings, Cherrie J.Zhu, Brain K, Cooper, Yiming Zhang and Sijun Shao, 2009). Lowry, Simon, and Kimberley (2002) concluded that training is a factor that enhances employee commitment and maximizes employee potential. The training process is one of the most methods for enhancing the productivity of individuals and communicating organizational goals to personnel.
DeleteTraining can be conceived as a change designed to influence learning and behavior change. (Huse, 1975). Manju.S & Dr. Suresh B.H, 2011 says training acts as an intervention to improve quality of products and services of an organization in stiff competition by improvements in technical skills of employees.
Interesting and informative article Sewwandi. Thanks for your time and effort spent on formulating the same. By reading the article, it is evident that Training and Development is a vital component in maintaining a competent employee core.
ReplyDeleteWhat limitations and restrictions do you see within organizations in conducting effective Training and Development programs?
Thank you for your valuable comment and expectations shared with me Angelo, there are a number of factors that may cause a training session to be a triumph or a “try again next time.” Rather than becoming overwhelmed by all of the variables that create successful training, we’ll break it down simply to identify the barriers to avoid during the planning stage, the delivery, and the follow-up of a training session.
DeleteOne barrier to effective training is the lack of good planning. It’s incredibly important to consider the needs of audience throughout the entire planning process.
Conduct a needs assessment
It is critical to match the training to the needs of your organization. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for determining training needs, a needs assessment can be of great value on all levels to aid in doing so.
Other barriers to effective training can include choosing the wrong timing for training (too soon or too late), not providing the right building blocks to anchor the new knowledge, proving snooze-worthy training, or not choosing the appropriate length of time to adequately cover the topic.
Timing is everything
If there is a deadline to implement a new process or policy, make sure the relevant employees are trained well in advance of that deadline to allow time to address any questions or concerns. If you require every employee to attend a seminar on benefits when only 25% are eligible, it may not be the best use of time and resources. On the other hand, offering the presentation three months before open enrollment would also be problematic because it is too far in advance.
For any organization, training is an investment in time, money, and resources. It can also be a tool for retention and rewards as well. Make sure you plan carefully for the audience’s needs to get the most bang for your buck!
Absolutely spot on! 🎯 Training and development are like the lifeblood of an organization's growth and success. Your insights into the importance of nurturing employees' skills and knowledge resonate deeply. In today's dynamic business landscape, where change is constant, investing in training isn't just beneficial – it's essential. I particularly liked how you highlighted the ripple effect: empowered employees lead to increased productivity, better morale, and ultimately, heightened organizational performance.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post on training and development was a lot of excitement to read. I learned a lot from it because it was educational and well-written. The piece about the value of lifelong learning was especially helpful to me. Employees should always be learning and developing, and this blog post offers some wonderful advice on how to achieve that. I appreciate you sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your valuable comment and expectations shared with me. Yeah, Agreed. employees should always be learning and developing. When develop employees, can create a strong pipeline of talent. That means can promote from within and cut down on costs for recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding and training.
DeleteUpskilling current workforce can help develop better managers and leaders. current employees know company’s vision, culture and operations. Don’t lose out on productivity when promote from within.
Learning and development unlocks higher potential for your workforce. According to Deloitte research, organizations that have a strong learning culture are 92% more likely to develop novel processes and products.
Training programs expose your employees to new ideas and ways of doing things, which they can apply in their current or future roles. Another way learning and development can lead to innovation is that it can reveal untapped talent in your employees. employees may not be aware of what their own strengths are. Training programs can expand employee knowledge and lead them to pursuing new duties and roles within company that benefit business’s bottom line.
Excellent article Sewwandi. You have clearly explained your topic of the Importance of Training and Development for employees. The most valuable resource of an organization is its workforce. This article highlights how important training and development are in enabling employees to achieve their maximum potential. Furthermore, research demonstrates that employees have higher retention rates and higher levels of job satisfaction, highlighting the long-term benefits of making investments in the training and development of employees.
ReplyDeleteContent that is well-organized and describes the workforce's training and development method. What specific benefits does investing in employee training and development provide in terms of employee morale, skill development, and overall performance, taking into account the global context of employee behavior? How does it help an organization get a competitive advantage?
ReplyDelete