Don’t Slash Budget for Staff Training

When economic conditions call for budget cuts, many companies start by chopping away at employee training programs. So how can you keep your training programs intact amid tough times? Consider this: Regardless of the economy, a company spending on training should be focused on results. Positive results occur and value is created when your company’s training transfers to overall organizational goals. Training moves from being an expense to being a wise investment. You can increase the value of training by:

• Making sure the problem you are trying to solve via training is really a training issue. Perform a thorough analysis to determine if employee training is the most effective answer.
• Clearly linking the training to the employee’s work objectives. A direct correlation between content and performance improvement should be demonstrated, documented and communicated.
• Developing measurable objectives and specific expected outcomes. Your road map to success should include milestones or measurements of progress toward a pre-determined destination. Ensure that you have solid measures in place to support both short-term objectives and long-term strategic goals. For more strategic initiatives that are designed to contribute to longterm organizational goals, measurement can be a challenge. In those cases, it is imperative to make a clear connection between the training and the expected long-term outcome. Flexibility is another consideration in keeping training alive in your organization. The more flexible you can be in the delivery of training, the easier it is to meet your company’s training needs within the constraints of a reduced budget. One way to achieve flexibility is with custom designed training that addresses the unique needs of your employees. Flexibility can also be achieved by offering training electronically rather than in a traditional classroom setting. When properly designed and delivered, Web-based training can provide valuable instruction and unite employees in remote locations while eliminating travel expenses. Just because the economy is weak, that doesn’t mean your training initiatives have to lose their strength.