Training designed for success

By: Tony Constantino, Safety Coordinator, VIP International Inc.

We should ask ourselves, what is our goal in developing a training process? Should we consider a proactive approach to effective developmental skills such as communication, decision making, and time management? The environment in which we work today has evolved through improved training techniques along with a dedication to overall safety. The establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides a great number of positive changes that are adopted by many industries. Companies have strived to develop and advance training in order to increase safety and quality of work. While OSHA has set the minimum standard requirements for training, it is up to the organization to exceed the expectations. As a whole, companies worldwide have seen a decrease in accidents, injuries, and death due in part to effective training. With the development of a strategic program, we allow employees an opportunity to utilize hard skills, as well as soft skills, to reach their full potential.

Thinking back on past training design, it is clear that the point of interest was always “how to do the job.” Hard skills are technical and developed in many cases through on-the-job experience. It is easy to identify the importance of hard skills in that they are the foundation of the work ethic. During hard skill training, employees undergo the necessary training to accomplish job tasks in the field. This provides a hands-on advantage and can be performed and reinforced while on the job. It allows the employee to be productive while learning new skills. On the other hand, some training is best suited to a classroom with an instructor or computerbased application. Companies must take into consideration the training needs best suited for each employee and their learning styles. The most common types of learning styles include visual, auditory, and physical. In order to effectively provide training, the company may choose a multipurpose training module created to provide a hands-on approach with group projects, lectures, and videos.

Although these fundamentals are necessary, companies have learned they are not enough. Organizations have discovered that it is beneficial to look at a more holistic (comprehensive) approach to learning. One way of doing this is by implementing soft skill training where the focus is on the development of the employee’s interpersonal skills. Companies may perform a training needs analysis to identify opportunities of improvement. For example, the focus for success can be communication, decision making, and time management. After additional training modules have been identified, the training should be developed based on the needs and evaluated on the effectiveness of that training.

Communication is one of the most important tools in our box. It is crucial to have employees in the field who are proficient in hard skills while being able to successfully communicate. Effective communication includes the ability to listen, collaborate with others, present ideas, and communicate with team members—all highly valued skills in a healthy workplace. Along with communication, it is important that employees understand a strategic process for decision making. This will enable them to define the problems more efficiently, thus enhancing their work performance. Time management has proven again and again an important ingredient to reaching personal and professional goals. When employees and managers are aware of the goals, it puts everyone on the same page and working toward the same outcome. Employees will then begin to use their action items to complete tasks throughout the workday. These soft skills are directly transferrable to any job, organization, or industry.

The development of the employee is continuous with a holistic approach. Soft skills are equally as important as hard skills. The hard skills serve as the foundation, but the soft skills obtained will transform employees to greater levels of leadership, teamwork, and job performance. The goal is to never stop improving. The more companies empower their employees, the more they will naturally develop tools to succeed. If the employee is successful, then the company is as well. Invest in the employee and they will invest in themselves.

For more information, please visit www.vipinc.com. q

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the goal is to never stop improving… the more companies empower their employees, the more they will naturally develop tools to succeed.

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