Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental role employees play in driving growth and innovation within businesses. They serve as the lifeblood, fueling the creation of various products and services for consumers to enjoy. When employers prioritize both employee training and development, including management training, and demonstrate proper recognition for their efforts, it cultivates talent and enhances productivity, ultimately leading to success.
Trained employees know what’s expected of them, have the necessary skills to navigate difficulties, and embody confidence in their work. They know the company’s products like the back of their hand, even if it’s something technical like a ServiceNow security operations program or something mechanical like the Caterpillar hydraulic mining shovel. Customers will trust businesses with knowledgeable staff because they show credibility and expertise. Their money won’t be wasted because of incompetence.
While the kind of training programs employees take differ depending on their job functions and expertise, some courses serve as a good foundation for any role. Here are some core training courses every human resource department should have on their list:
Industry Laws and Standards
The famous saying ‘no man is an island’ is also applicable to companies. Businesses don’t exist in a vacuum where they can do what they want. There are industry laws and standards they must adhere to, mandated by governments, professions, or countries. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is one example of a standard-setting body that most, if not all, nations recognize. ISO creates and upholds standards in multiple industries, from agriculture and technology to food and healthcare. Employees who know the ins and outs of specific guidelines and policies are more likely to do their jobs with integrity and accountability.
Effective Communication
Whether jobs are client-facing or dealing with back-end services, employees will always communicate with another person. It can be their teammates, bosses, or external partners. It is vital, then, that everyone in the organization knows the fundamentals of effective communication to avoid misunderstandings and disagreements. Based on a report by a global PR organization, poor communications can cost companies around $37 billion. At the same time, leaders who are expert communicators bring a higher return to investment to the shareholders in their company.
Project Management
Everything is a project, no matter how small or big the task is. Employees will be managing limited time and resources to achieve key performance metrics set out by the company, even if it’s just their tasks. Individuals trained in project management know how to wrangle the chaos back into order while dealing with teammates with their projects. Imagine if everyone in the company knows project management. They will be able to handle their jobs more effectively and smoothly.
Conflict Resolution
Despite the best intentions, conflict is inevitable in the workplace. This is because you are bringing people with different experiences and opinions in one space to work together. Employees must learn to navigate conflict and disagreements with a cool head and objective manner. In this case, problems can be tackled early and peacefully, without politics and emotions getting in the way. They are also not afraid to speak their mind and voice out their opinions because they know it’s all for the good of the company.
Training and development programs can help companies become stronger and more resilient to the changing tides. It can also mitigate the appearance of common issues in the workplace because trained employees are more competent, confident, and wise.
