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How to increase employee retention with training delivery methods
Employee retention is one of the top priorities for all organizations. According to a recent survey, 70% of learning leaders were focused on employee retention. Turnover is costly, both in terms of lost institutional knowledge, sacrificed productivity, and the actual cost to backfill the position.
Luckily, some actions that can impact employee retention can also strengthen worker skills and experience at the same time. Chief among these is to offer a robust, engaging training program. This post will explore the impact of training delivery methods on retention, and how aligning to the individual needs of learners is a key strategy for maximizing the impact of corporate training efforts.
The power of engagement for employee retention
According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce report, 41% of respondents believe that improving workplace engagement or culture would be the most impactful way to improve their job. Employees crave engagement, and many of those who don’t receive it end up looking outside of the organization.
One of the key ways to increase engagement is by offering opportunities for employees to gain new skills and progress in their roles. Employee training shows each employee that their employer has a vested interest in their growth, and that they are willing to invest in their long-term success.
In order to maximize the impact of training opportunities it’s important to offer learners training methods that connect with their needs and preferences.
Barriers to employee learning
A variety of different obstacles can stand in the way of a positive learning experience. A strategic, custom-tailored approach to training is the best way to overcome roadblocks and deliver learning that improves engagement along the way. This means not utilizing a one-size-fits all approach to learner theory, but aligning with the specific needs, strengths, and different ways people learn.
Other barriers to employee learning include communication barriers, cultural differences, and unique challenges concerning in-person and online learning. While each of these factors require adaptation, adhering to the philosophy of personalized training to each audience is the most effective way to maximize the likelihood of success.
How personalized learning overcomes barriers to employee retention
When employees feel that their professional growth is in alignment with their professional goals and aspirations, it can increase commitment to their role and employer. Personalized learning also encourages a sense of empowerment over their own development, which further boosts motivation and loyalty.
Investing in personalized learning not only strengthens employee retention, but it also cultivates a culture of continuous growth. This lays the foundation for a healthy, efficient organization that is able to keep a higher percentage of talent—and outperform their competitors by doing so.
If you’re a leader who wants to make sure you’re offering the most valuable training for those on your team, take a look at this training needs assessment template. It can help you discover internal skill gaps, and what sort of training would be most effective at closing them.
The need for continuous evaluation to improve training delivery
Identifying the best type of training delivery for each learning group requires continuous evaluation of the engagement and impact of your efforts. This should include keeping an eye on metrics presented by your learning management system (LMS), as well as proactively seeking both qualitative and quantitative feedback.
In an ideal learning environment, embracing the best practice of continuous evaluation would allow you to identify potential issues in the middle of your training curriculum. This would allow you to course correct and better align the training delivery to each learner. Remember, engaged learners are more likely to feel like their needs are being met, and gain a better understanding of the courses. Both of these outcomes are directly correlated with improved employee retention.The importance of technology for enhanced training delivery
Choosing the right technology to deliver your learning enables an additional level of personalization that’s simply not possible with traditional training platforms. Rather than requiring manual updating and duplication, robust learning solutions reduce the heavy lifting required to offer learners an experience that best aligns with their needs and preferences. Technology also enables asynchronous learning that can be especially powerful for organizations that have an international presence, since they typically bridge several different time zones.
Learning more about personalized training
Above average employee retention requires proactivity, and few actions are more effective at driving results than a robust employee training program. As we’ve explored in this post, successful training programs require leaning into the unique needs and preferences of learners. Tailoring training delivery methods, proactively evaluating learner engagement and results, and leaning into modern technology are all important steps to delivering training that drives real results through improved retention and a culture of loyalty.
To learn more about the strength of personalized training methods, and how online training specifically can help you connect with learners more effectively, don’t miss watch this webinar, Reach every learner through tailored online training.
