Corporate training: how to do it and what are the benefits

If you are looking for information on how to organize corporate training, you are in the right place. In this article, we will explain what corporate training is, how to implement it effectively, and the benefits it brings to your company.

Introduction: Corporate training is a fundamental activity.

Let’s start with an axiom that will serve as the cornerstone of our analysis: corporate training is strategic. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Corporate training enables employees to acquire new skills and update existing ones, thus improving their productivity and the quality of their work. Moreover, corporate training serves as an important source of motivation for employees, who feel valued and appreciated by the company.

Putting people at the center of the company is the starting point to understand the importance of corporate training. We recommend watching this video before continuing with the reading:

But how to organize corporate training effectively?

To answer this question, we need to consider the 4 essential phases for designing and managing training effectively in a company:

1. Define objectives and type: Firstly, it is important to define the training objectives. This includes identifying the specific skills, knowledge, or behaviors that need to be developed or improved through the training.
2. Choose the type of training: Next, choose the training format that best suits the company’s needs and employees’ preferences. For example, training can be delivered in a classroom setting or online, depending on the requirements and feasibility.
3. Involve employees: It is crucial to involve employees in the process of designing and implementing the training. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, or individual discussions to understand their needs, preferences, and areas of interest. By involving employees, you can increase their engagement and motivation to participate in the training.
4. Monitor and evaluate: Finally, it is important to monitor the outcomes of the training and evaluate its effectiveness. This can be done through various methods such as assessments, feedback surveys, or performance evaluations. By collecting data on the training’s impact, you can identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to enhance the quality of future training programs.

By following these steps, companies can ensure that their corporate training initiatives are aligned with organizational goals, tailored to employee needs, and continuously improved to maximize their effectiveness.

Phase 1: Collect and analyze employees’ training needs

To effectively organize corporate training activities, it is necessary to start by collecting information through surveys, one-to-one interviews, and focus groups in order to accurately analyze employees’ training needs.

These training needs can be divided into 3 macro-categories:

• Organizational needs (influenced by business objectives);
• Professional needs (dependent on hierarchical position);
• Individual needs (personal development requirements).

The analysis allows Training & Development Managers to define the objectives of corporate training and plan the subsequent steps. It helps design training courses by identifying the tools and appropriate methods of delivery (which can take place in classrooms, outdoors, or through e-learning platforms). Finally, it enables the measurement of results and the effectiveness of the training provided.

This strategic approach allows you to create personalized training programs and maximize training effectiveness.

Tip: Always remember to monitor the results and ROI (Return on Investment) of the training to evaluate its effectiveness. This will help you make any necessary corrections and improve the quality of the training programs.

As you can see, corporate training is a fundamental investment for the success of the company and its employees. Organizing it in the most effective way possible and evaluating its effectiveness are the keys to obtaining maximum benefits.

Phase 2: Choose the right training method for the company

Identifying the most suitable training method is a crucial and delicate phase that can determine the success or failure of the training project. The right methodology will allow you to achieve the objectives and effectively address the training needs.

What types of training can be used in the company?

Now let’s explore the training methods you can use in the company for the growth and development of individuals. You have three types of training available: e-learning, blended, and classroom-based.

Corporate training in e-learning: the advantages

• E-learning is one of the most cost-effective and efficient options for companies that want to provide training courses to their employees. Thanks to technology, it is possible to offer real-time training that is flexible and accessible wherever there is an internet connection.
• E-learning training courses can be customized to meet the needs of the company and its employees. They can be accessed anytime and anywhere, allowing employees to take courses independently without interrupting their work activities.
• E-learning training is capable of providing immediate and accurate feedback on employees’ progress. The power of technology!

Blended Training: Definition and Advantages

• Blended training is a type of training that combines various approaches, including e-learning and synchronous training in the classroom or via video-conferencing. This training method allows for the optimal utilization of the advantages offered by both methods, providing a more comprehensive and personalized learning experience.
• Blended training enables employees to attend in-person classroom sessions while also accessing course content online, offering greater flexibility and the opportunity to learn independently.
• Additionally, this training method fosters a more collaborative learning environment, promoting interaction among employees and the exchange of ideas and experiences.
• Furthermore, blended training allows companies to reduce training costs without compromising the quality of the training provided.

Classroom Training: Pros and Cons

• Classroom training, also known as in-person training, is a synchronous training method conducted in a physical classroom setting under the guidance of an instructor or tutor (ILT – Instructor-Led Training). This training method allows participants to interact directly with the instructor and other learners, offering greater interactivity and a more collaborative learning environment.
• Classroom training also allows for a greater focus on the training content and the opportunity to delve into concepts in more detail, thanks to the ability to ask questions and receive immediate answers. Additionally, classroom training is particularly useful for courses that require the use of specific equipment or tools, which can be made available to participants during the training session.
• However, classroom training can be costly and require significant logistical organization, such as booking a meeting room and preparing teaching materials, as well as the need to have all participants physically present in the same location.

In this regard, always keep in mind that modern corporate training is digital, and therefore technology integrates into classroom training as well, thanks to innovative solutions for digital learning that enhance and improve the effectiveness of traditional training. Contact us to find out how.

Phase 3: Engage Employees

Engagement is the keyword, the “secret” ingredient for the success of any corporate training project.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, it is essential to involve employees (from the outset) in defining learning paths and choosing courses in order for corporate training to be effective. The goal is to stimulate interest and participation in the training.

To stimulate and cultivate learner engagement, it is important to communicate the objectives and benefits of the training clearly, highlighting how it can contribute to professional and personal development.

Creating an inclusive and stimulating environment and context where people feel encouraged to share their ideas and actively participate in training significantly promotes engagement. In short, Social Learning and Engagement are two inseparable friends!

In this regard, to maintain a high and consistent level of engagement and interest, remember that you can adopt a Gamification strategy to make training more engaging and motivating. Thanks to modern digital learning technologies and the right e-learning platforms, this can be easily achieved!

Finally, never forget to collect feedback regularly to assess the effectiveness of training programs, involving employees in the evaluation process to achieve continuous improvement.

In summary, employee engagement in corporate training not only increases the likelihood of success but also contributes to creating a culture of learning within the organization.

Phase 4: Monitor Learning and Evaluate Training in the Company

To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of corporate training, you can use various methodologies. One possibility is to conduct pre and post-training assessment tests to measure the acquisition of knowledge and skills by your learners. Additionally, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is useful to gather direct feedback from participants through surveys or interviews to understand their perceptions of the training quality and its applicability in the workplace.

It is also important to evaluate the application of the acquired skills by observing changes in behavior and employee performance.

Using continuous monitoring tools (such as creating regular reports on the training administered in the company) helps identify any gaps or areas for improvement in the program and make necessary corrections.

Finally, it is essential to involve managers and supervisors in the evaluation process to gather different perspectives and obtain a comprehensive view of the training’s impact on the organization. Continuous monitoring and evaluation ensure a process of continuous improvement and allow for adaptation of training programs to the evolving needs of the company and its employees.

Corporate Training and Smart Working

With the adoption of hybrid, remote, and smart working, corporate training has become even more essential to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and productive in the new way of working and in the new work environment.

Employees who work from home or in smart-working need to be regularly trained to acquire the right skills and face the new work challenges.

Corporate training can be delivered in various ways, such as online courses, webinars, or streaming videos. Video conferencing software, collaboration tools, and smartphone apps can also be used to allow employees to participate in training wherever they are (anytime, anywhere). For this reason, it is essential to have an e-learning platform capable of managing and integrating all these training methods for employee development.

In summary, corporate training is crucial for companies that adopt hybrid remote work and smart working, and organizations must be able to provide appropriate and tailored training support to ensure that everyone can perform their work to the best of their abilities.

Corporate Training Embedded in the Flow of Work: Learning in the Flow of Work

According to Josh Bersin, an analyst in the field of corporate training and development, organizations are now adopting a new strategy for corporate training that involves integrating training into employees’ daily workflow. This new strategy, called “Learning in the Flow of Work,” is based on the idea that training should not be a separate activity but should be integrated into employees’ daily tasks.

Bersin argues that this new just-in-time corporate training strategy is particularly effective in meeting the needs of today’s workers, who prefer more flexible and personalized learning experiences.

Furthermore, training embedded in the flow of work creates a continuous learning environment and provides employees with real-time relevant learning content to address the constantly changing business demands. Bersin suggests that integrating training into employees’ daily workflow can be achieved through the use of technology and solutions for digital learning, microlearning, and artificial intelligence.

In summary, according to Josh Bersin, Learning in the Flow of Work represents a new strategy for corporate training that allows organizations to meet the needs of today’s workforce and improve the effectiveness of training by integrating it into employees’ daily workflow.

In conclusion:

Corporate training is strategic and should be organized and managed correctly, using the right strategy to define needs and objectives to be achieved; choosing the appropriate training methods (e-learning, blended, or classroom-based); involving employees; and measuring and evaluating the delivered training.

Modern digital training technologies allow for the creation of a modern and continuous learning ecosystem for all employees, including those working in smart-working or remotely. This way, you can embed training into the flow of work for a truly effective just-in-time training experience.

If you want to improve your corporate training and implement successful e-learning projects, please contact us. We are here to help you.