How to deal with lack of training at work?

What is ‘lack of training’?

Over 59% of employees get no workplace training, and have to be self-taught, according to statistics.

The lack of training at work refers to the absence of proper instructional facilities and resources for employees at the workplace. When employees are not being trained at work, they will not be able to deliver their best performance. Inadequate training of employees can adversely affect business performance, revenue, team morale and employee retention. Lack of training can affect both new employees who are in the process of being onboarded and existing employees looking to upskill.

And it can mean different things. For one, it can refer to the lack of any planning for training new or existing employees. Additionally, not establishing learning goals or inadequate assessments also indicates inadequate training.

How to check if you are suffering from lack of training?

You might have an elaborate training program in place, but that does not mean you will automatically benefit from it. An effective training program contains several stages of learning and execution, all of which have to be monitored. A recent McKinsey survey found that only 25% of respondents noticed a measurable improvement in their performance after training. Ineffective training is no better than lack of training. If you are worried that your training program is not delivering the results it should, you have to evaluate and assess it systematically.

Is the company aware that a problem exists?

Companies that do not track the performance of their employee training program tend to overlook the problem until it is too late. Awareness is key when it comes to implementing a successful training program. Once you acknowledge that a problem exists, you can communicate with your employees and find the flaws of the system.

Does the staff understand why training is important for them?

Employees who view training as a mandatory exercise and do not apply themselves to it fully are unlikely to see results. They should know why training is important for them specifically as they navigate their workplace duties. It is only then that they will see training as a job retention requirement and become more engaged which will eventually increase employee retention.

Are employees able to implement what they learned during daily work situations?

After going through the training materials, employees have to apply the knowledge at work. The training program should incorporate activities and opportunities that allow the employees to practice the skills they have learned.

Gartner reports that 70% of employees have not mastered the skills they require for their jobs, and lack of practice is one of the main reasons. Tests and assessments do not represent the real world, where employees will have to think on their feet and respond to a situation appropriately without second chances. Case studies and roleplay may be helpful tools to simulate “real world” situations.

Is the effectiveness of the program being tracked?

Once you have implemented your program, it is important to revisit it periodically and check whether it is delivering the results you want. You can track individual employee performance and use metrics to determine whether your employees are equipping themselves with the right skills and meeting their targets.

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Consequences of ‘lack of training’

Lack of training can have serious consequences in this era of upskilling and reskilling.

·         Unsafe work environment

All employers have a legal obligation to provide a healthy and safe working atmosphere to their employees. Lack of training may mean evading that responsibility, and this could lead to serious legal repercussions. For example, workplace accidents can become more frequent if the team is lacking compliance training.

Workplace injuries are also common and can cost businesses $53.9 billion in wage and productivity loss. Medical expenses also add another $35.5 billion with administrative expenses of $59.7 billion.

·         Increased turnover

Young, motivated employees will be more likely to stay in a company that offers opportunities for upskilling, development and career progression. If they are not receiving training at work, some may divert their attention to finding employers who can fulfill their needs. This can lead to increased employee turnover which will increase your rehiring costs consequently.

The problem is more common than you think. 37.9% of recruits quit their job within one year. Additionally, 2 out of 3 workers leave within the first six months. However, proper training can work to your benefit.

·         Reduced productivity

Poorly trained employees can feel undervalued, and this prevents them from performing to their potential. If your employees perform poorly time and time again while making the same mistakes, the productivity levels will dip significantly. Regular training and assessments, on the other hand, can encourage employees to remain productive. Additionally, plan your training program carefully to achieve your learning outcomes. Along with technical skills, you should also train your staff on soft skills. Only then can you aim to derive the best results from your training program

·         Unhappy staff

Being unappreciated and undervalued can cause employees to feel unhappy and discontented. They will not develop company loyalty and they might even look for jobs elsewhere. Having unhappy staff in your team will also hinder the progress of the company because they will not make sufficient contribution due to lack of motivation.

As a result, your employees will become disengaged. Sadly, that is true for most organizations, as 52% of US employees are disengaged. However, adequate engagement rates can boost productivity by 17%. Needless to say, training can go a long way to do that.

·         Untapped potential and low profits

Lack of training in the workplace is problematic because you will never find out what your employees are capable of. Training allows to identify the strengths of your employees and work on their weaknesses. Without training, the weaknesses remain unattended. The revenue and profits of your company will drop in the absence of well-rounded, efficient employees.

On the other hand, a comprehensive training program can boost per employee revenue by 218%. In addition, effective training also enables a business to earn 24% more profits. Therefore, training your employees adequately is more of a need and not a choice.

·         Company loses competitive edge

The competition between companies is constantly on the rise in today’s day and age. Without productive and well-educated employees who are willing to go the extra mile, companies can lose their competitive edge very quickly.

Additionally, they will not be able to develop the latest skills in employees. That will force the businesses to lose out on leveraging best practices and recent trends. Moreover, the company will become less flexible and unable to respond to market changes quickly.

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·         Lack of future-proofing

Advancement of technology has opened up many doors for businesses. The market is changing swiftly and it is now more important than ever to future-proof your company. Employees should have adequate training to handle new technologies and use them efficiently. Training employees for the future is what every company has to focus on.

Research shows the early adopters of the latest technologies are the ones to lead the market. Businesses that are slow to transform miss out on revenues and profits. They make bad decisions and miss out on billions due to being a slow adopter. In addition, such businesses aren’t able to innovate often, a key competitive advantage.

And it’s not that existing employees are averse to new skillsets. A PWC study states how over 74% of employees are willing to learn new skills or retrain as needed, so that they can remain employable.

·         Dissatisfied clients

Untrained employees will be more likely to disappoint clients and decrease customer satisfaction. This can damage your reputation and prevent you from creating a loyal customer base.

Moreover, your customer service can go for a dip due to untrained employees. That can be pretty bad for any business as poor service forces 58% of American customers to change brands. As a result, inadequate training can have a direct effect on your bottom line.

How to deliver effective training?

If you are wondering how to deal with lack of training at work, it is time for a haul.

Most importantly, start with a solid plan that outlines what you want to achieve. Therefore, you have to determine your learning objectives first. In addition, plan how you will implement your training program, evaluate learning outcomes, and expected timelines.

Design an effective training program will modern tools and techniques that are efficient and accessible.

·         Blended learning methods

Blended learning combines different training methods to deliver a well-rounded experience to the learners. You can combine hands-on training, instructor-led classrooms (online and virtual) and video training modules to deliver comprehensive lessons. Utilizing the power of blended learning methods will help you take a dynamic approach to employee training.

Additionally, it can help you cater to different learning styles of individuals. Some people learn better from visual techniques like videos. Others may prefer practical learning or even ebooks. Therefore, assess your learners and blend the right methods for the best results. You can use Bites to create short training videos and incorporate them with your program.

·         Video learning

Video learning has risen in popularity due to its efficiency and effectiveness.  Visual learners especially will benefit from online video modules that are easily accessible. Training videos act as knowledge capsules that can be consumed whenever and wherever.

You can make the videos instructional by delivering theory lessons, or you can make demonstrational videos teaching employees how to do something. Platforms like Bites allows you to record and edit videos with ease so you can share them with your employees immediately.

·         Harness modern technologies

The rise of educational technologies powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has changed the landscape of corporate training. Companies are using AI to deliver personalized training to employees. With VR, it is easy to simulate real-life scenarios and classrooms while AR allows employees to practice skills they have learnt in a structured and interactive way.

Moreover, you can use a learning management system (LMS) to implement your training program. It will help you keep track of your progress and manage everything from a single interface. Your employees can also access learning materials from anywhere and even learn on the go.

·         Interactive learning platforms

Interactive learning platforms make it easy for you to create a database of learning materials and track your employees’ progress as they undergo training. For example, Bites allows you to create short video modules and share it directly with your employees. You can track their progress using the analytics dashboard or engage in forum discussions to resolve their doubts.

According to research, interactive learning provided results beyond expectations for 82% of businesses. Additionally, interactive learning methods increase engagement rate by 50%. So, it is a great approach to generate maximum ROI from your training.

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·         Microlearning

Microlearning refers to the practice of consuming a large body of knowledge in small, digestible chunks. Microlearning is especially effective for employee training because it leaves times for them to participate in job-related activities without compromising the learning process. Microlearning also helps establish a culture of learning because employees can train whenever they want.

You can use Bites to take advantage of microlearning. It allows businesses to:

• Make videos of short durations
• Share them through messaging apps
• Help your employees learn incrementally

In the end, microlearning helps your employees retain information better and longer.

Why Bites?

Bites is a cost-effective virtual learning platform that can be integrated into any training program. You can share video training materials with your employees via accessible channels and track their progress easily with the help of the dashboard. Bites encourages learner participation and employees can leave feedback about the lessons. Additionally, you can also create quizzes and flashcards to test the progress of your employees.