20 Common Employee Training Expectations and How to Meet Them
Most clients we work with acknowledge the importance of meeting both organizational goals as well as employee expectations during training. They understand that fulfilling employee expectations is critical to launch a successful employee training program.
They also understand that only when these employee expectations in training are fulfilled, can a training program give a high return on investment.
So, we decided to listen directly from the horse’s mouth and conducted a qualitative survey on what are some of the common employee training expectations. We also sought input on how these expectations can be fulfilled. Here’s what we found.
Clear learning objectives
Amelia (name changed) shared her insight about how learners follow a trainer’s lead in a program. “The instructor is the captain of the ship in a session. So, if they don’t know where they are headed, how can we as trainees know that?”.
Employees like Amelia are looking for well-defined learning objectives. They find it easier to grasp the training if they know what to focus on.
One can easily fulfillthis expectationin training, by defining and communicating clear, SMART goals for each training session.
For example, a vague objective looks something like – “By the end of this training, you will be able to use our CRM.”
Now, compare this with – “By the end of this training, you will be able to use our CRM and manage customer data. In today’s session, we will talk about how you can use the interface to find out basic details of a customer and their purchase behavior.”
Relevant content
Almost all participants agreed that they expect the content to be relevant to their needs on the job. “Otherwise, it’s just about ticking boxes”, one of our participants said. It leads to unengaged employees and defeats the whole purpose of training.
For instance, training sales personnel on advanced Excel may not be relevant for entry-level sales personnel. On the other hand, they might find training on negotiation skills more relevant to their jobs.
Customization of training
Employees expect their training to be role-specific, industry-specific, and in line with their personal development plans. So, it is important to plan the trainings in a way that it covers the generic concepts in a group, and specifics in one-on-one coaching sessions. Otherwise, the learner cohorts should be made of participants who have to carry out similar roles and responsibilities.
Practical application
Most of our participants who work in people-facing roles were clear that roleplays, mock calls, creating presentations, and simulations for actual meetings were some of the things they found useful in trainings. These tools prepared them better for real-life scenarios.
Accessible resources
“They wanted us to take prints, solve exercises, and send the scans back to them. Wouldn’t it be better, had they shared an editable file with us?” Lucas, another of our survey participants asked us.
And it’s a fair, basic acceptation that employees expect the training resources to be easily accessible. Yet sometimes, even the most experienced trainers miss the obvious and forget to factor in, remote or hybrid employees.
Alignment with the actual business process
“I’m a young graduate who has recently joined a customer facing job. My trainer says something else, and my manager on the floor says something different. Whom should I follow? Would it not be better if they were on the same page?” asked Sam, one of the younger participants in our survey.
He is not alone in feeling lost. When training isn’t aligned with what happens in real-life scenarios, it no longer instils confidence in employees. In fact, it can lead to bad professional decisions on their part, and render the whole training process ineffective in the process.
Clarity and simplicity
“My expectation from my trainer is simplicity and clarity. If I have to struggle to decode their language, it demotivates me,” Jack, a young GenZ employee reported.
According to some of our survey participants, young professionalswant their trainers to breakdown complex processes into simple sub-steps. This makes the training easy for them to grasp and implement.
We agree. Jargon-free simple language, detailed breakdown of processes and steps, bullet points, flowcharts, and applicative practice can help make the training sessions clear and simple.
In-depth training and case studies
Our participants also felt that covering as many scenarios as possible is important during a training session.This is particularly true for training related to customer service, or sensitisation like anti-harassment, anti-discrimination, POSH, etc.
For instance, there is no dearth of possible scenarios in customer service roles inside a large organisation, say a bank. In that case, it is important to club the processes in different categories, and then cover them over time. A lot of this planning is done at the strategic level, but it is imperative that the process-training reflects the same strategy in the content.
Experienced trainers
An experienced trainer needs to be well-versed with the essential skills for trainers. They must have in-depth knowledge of their domain, but they should also have sufficient experience in applying that knowledge in real-life scenarios at work. Additionally, they must have an approachable, supportive and professional personality.
Variety in the training techniques
Unless it’s a workshop on a specific training technique itself, employees expect the sessions to be designed in a way that uses diverse tools, techniques, and methods of training. Combining skits, pantomimes, videos, case studies, gamified learning, outdoor activities, drills, etc. with theoretical and indoor activities engages employees far better, than just a singular training methodology.
Latest trends and innovations
No one wants to spend time on a training which can’t help them catchup with the latest trends in the industry. No wonder employees expect that trainers will not only teach them the latest industry trends but will also use the latest and the most innovative training methods.
Trends like microlearning, apps, gamification, personalisation and customisation are really beneficial in fulfilling this expectation.
Trainee engagement and interaction
This is a key expectation according to most of our survey participants. Employees do not want to be passive recipients in training. They also want to share their input. They want to be heard, and have their questions answered. They hey expect activities and participation.
Activities in groups, with partners, and as solo participants are good for engaging employees. Group discussions, roleplays, one-act scenarios, quizzes, puzzles, polls, Q&A sessions,etc. keep the environment energised.
Effective delivery
A trainer’s delivery should be effective, otherwise even the best content fails to impact the employees. Almost all survey participants unanimously acknowledged that they prefer a trainer who is able to deliver the content impactfully and confidently.
They also expected the trainer and the training team to create an environment that supports learning.
Supportive learning environment
Trainees expect a distraction-free environment when learning. They don’t want to be judged for asking questions or making errors. They want to be corrected but in a professional manner, and with empathy. No one likes an environment that is not conducive to learning. Cora, a senior manager, said, “Co-learners also affect the learning environment. So, I expect my trainer to ensure that they facilitate peer support as well.”
Feedback and assessment
All employees expect their training to be assessed. They also expect to receive regular feedback during the training so that they can fill in the knowledge gaps and apply their learning better.
This expectation is as fundamental as the expectation of relevant and practical content. Dedicating time for assessment, evaluation, and feedback activities towards the completionis one way to fulfil this expectation. But it is equally important to plan time for quizzes, assessments, and small contests, etc. during the training as well.
Measurable results
Numbers are important. Even for employees. Measurable results indicate their growth without any vagueness. So, trainers need to set clear metrics to measure the success of training
For example, comparing the number of deals that a sales employee closed before and after their training, clearly indicates how much they learned.
Similarly, the number of bugs that need to be removed from a coder’s programs before and after the training,is a measurable parameter.
Post-training support and reinforcement
Measurable results can only be achieved when there is ongoing support from the training team. So, training should be designed in a way that the employees can reach out to the training team for support, even when the training is over. This can be a short window like a week, 15 days, or a month.
This enables the employee to apply what she or he has learned, and then come back with the challenges they faced on the job. This also allows them to suggest improvements, and the training team can then update the material regularly.
User-friendly LMS and tools
Choosing the right LMS is important. If it cannot be accessed by employees easily, then they will eventually struggle with learning. In case the trainees are in a remote location, it is important to keep in mind the internet accessibility, their device specifications, etc.
Trainers also need to ascertain that all training information and modules are pre-implemented on the trainees’ devices so that there are no last-minute glitches.
Similarly, wherever needed, the LMS should be integrated with existing systems so that the trainees can use it efficiently. Also, test runs should be done prior to training.
A suitable mix of instructor-led and self-paced learning
This is another key expectation most employees seem to have. The training team should design the curriculum and the modules comprehensively sothat it includes instructor-led training, self-paced learning, peer-supported learning as well as group activities. This will ensure higher retention for all employees, irrespective of their learning style.
Rewards and recognition
Learning psychology is deeply impacted by motivation, and rewards and recognition are a great way of doing that. Celebrating milestones, gamifying the LMS, public acknowledgment of achievers, etc. are some ways to improve employee morale during training.
Quite a few of our survey participants also mentioned inclusion as one of the factors they value in a training. Afterall, we work in an era of remote and hybrid offices. This has opened up so many avenues for women, differently abled personnel, as well as people who may live in other cities. So, it is important to keep in mind that different trainees’ needs are kept in mind when planning the training. The tools, techniques, location, and teaching methods need to be inclusive so that all employees can benefit fairly from the sessions.
To sum up, the most common employee trainee expectations form the core of training. Effectiveness, efficiency, motivation, support, clarity, consistency, relevance, and engagement – these are some of the key training expectations from a trainer.
The best way to fulfil all these training expectations is to design, plan, create, and deliver the training modules in a way that causes real results in the workplace.