900 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034
856.667.4100 ·
215.563.0276 ·
Fax: 856.667.3652
The Online Advisor - August 1999
A strong employee training program pays off for a business
For satisfied, productive employees, invest in a strong training program.
If your business were run entirely by machines, you'd probably make sure that those machines were properly set up and maintained. But what if you have employees? Employees also need to be set up and maintained, although we don't often use those terms. Instead, we use words like "orientation," "motivation," and "training."
* Orientation. An employee's first day on the job is an important experience, and it should be carefully planned. Try to have a senior executive welcome each new employee, and give each person ample opportunity to learn about your company's history, values, and mission. Consider pairing a new hire with an experienced employee who can serve as a mentor. Whenever possible, allow each new employee to personally experience your product or service.
* Motivation. If you do a good job on the first day, your new employee should be motivated and ready to work. But eventually, almost everyone's motivation begins to lag. When it's time to energize your workers, remember that there are many ways to motivate people, and not all of them involve money or major effort.
To keep morale and motivation high, establish two-way communication with your employees, and try to keep the channels open. Solicit suggestions, and take action on the best ones.
* Training. Some people simply work better when they are given the opportunity to learn new skills and face new challenges. Of course, companies also need to train workers for very practical reasons, such as manufacturing a product more efficiently or adding a new product to the company's line. Many companies have even found that it is cost-effective to train employees in basic reading and math skills.
If you initiate an employee training program, make sure that your objectives are clear and that results can be measured.