3 Key Aspects You Should Integrate Into Your Next Business Training

Emma Sturgis

June 23, 2017

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Hiring new employees is the first step toward staffing key positions that are needed for the company's operation. However, effective business training is also necessary to equip employees with the skills required to do their job. Although business training may seem fairly cut and dried as far as teaching new hires about the work they will be doing, there are three critical aspects that should be included in every business training program. Without these essential skills, employees may not be fully prepared to successfully handle their new job duties. According to Forbes "A leader must never view a problem as a distraction, but rather as a strategic enabler for continuous improvement and opportunities previously unseen."

Communication

Many employees have developed limited communication skills. In fact, employers often cite both written and spoken communication effectiveness as a top skill sought in their employees. Writing clear in-house communication, including memos and reports, as well as knowing how to respond to administrators or direct subordinates are important requirements, especially for those who want to climb the company ladder and possibly become leaders one day. You may consider doing a strategic leadership training to help employees hone specific leadership skills that will help them in the future. Accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation can be encouraged by offering writing workshops in which trainees can work on sample company documents. Companies that do not have communication experts on staff should consider working with professionals who can provide training in this important area.

Interpersonal relations

Getting along with others is the best way to describe this quality. Employees who cannot handle stress, criticism, or alternate viewpoints can quickly get into trouble. All new hires need to understand company expectations for meshing well with others and becoming a team player rather than being a maverick. Role-playing exercises and team building training are fun and convenient ways to teach new employees how to handle potential conflicts with other workers on the job. Company dating policies should be clarified, along with how to handle disagreements with coworkers or supervisors by following a specific chain of command. In addition, the organization's sexual harassment policy should be clearly spelled out and explained during training.

Ethics

With increasingly complex cyber attacks and the potential to connect globally with company partners or customers, it is important for training classes to emphasize the value of ethics. Some companies distribute policy handbooks that include a section on ethics and how to avoid in-house conflicts of interest, plagiarism, and other ethical dilemmas. Although ethical conduct may seem like a clear-cut issue, many employees are confused about what is expected and whether to cross the line, for example, if asked to lie for their boss or cover for someone's mistake. Using the company's supplies, equipment, or facilities for personal purposes should be explained, as well. Disciplinary measures for ethical infractions should also be clearly stated, so that all employees know what to expect.

These important qualities should become part of every training class. Widely used and needed, they can enhance every new employee's value to the organization by assisting in the development of core skills that supplement job knowledge to more fully prepare new workers for their company roles. Helping them understand what is expected in terms of communication, interpersonal relations, and ethics can make a huge improvement in how new employees perform and enable them to avoid mistakes that could jeopardize their advancement in the company. Well-rounded training results in well-prepared employees who can avoid confusion and mistakes.