For many businesses, achieving success through development and growth means focusing on the most vital valuable asset available—employees.
It’s impossible to underscore the sheer importance of employee training and development in the human resources (HR) realm, especially for forward-thinking companies that want to improve retention and boost team culture. Investing in professional growth not only enhances individual skills, but it also fuels forward progress and innovation at the personal and corporate levels.
Whether you’re an HR professional seeking to overhaul established development programs, or you’re a business leader aiming to maximize the potential of your current workforce, use this guide to discover trends, establish effective training programs, and plan for future innovation.
As you search for ways to stay ahead of the curve in the training and development world, optimizing your HR tech stack is what makes a tangible difference.
Overview of employee training and development in HR
Training is so crucial to employees that up to 94% of employees make plans to stay with an organization when the company focuses on professional growth. Development tools are simply the platforms that allow companies to deliver important on-the-job information, to teach corporate values, and to provide a curriculum that’s highly tailored to specific contexts.
HR training programs run the gamut from simple to complex, including methods like:
- Learning management systems (LMS)
- Performance management software
- Online or in-browser training platforms
- Skill assessment tools or instruments
- Third-party products
These technologies have the power and potential to drive tangible results for any organization or business looking to invest in people through excellent employee training. From a people perspective, that makes a big difference. Current workplace data clearly supports the idea that employee training positively influences morale and motivation.
There’s no question—antiquated training and instructional methods won’t meet the demands of a contemporary workforce. Now, HR professionals must turn to creative technologies that optimize the training process, making it more user-friendly and productive for everyone.
In conjunction with tangible learning benefits, making the switch to modern platforms results in higher employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
What can you accomplish with advanced HR training tools?
No matter how much information a prospective employee has about a role during the application process, the learning curve can be steep.
HR leaders can close this gap with diligent onboarding, on-the-job training, and cultural exposure. While research shows that 74% workers are willing to learn new skills and information when accepting a position, only a small minority of those new hires feel that they actually receive the training they’re desperately seeking. Managers must acknowledge these emotional and mental connections if they hope to transform and improve HR training processes.
So what can HR managers do to shift the tide, enhancing the experience for internal staff and new hires alike? The answer lies in adopting a comprehensive training tool and optimizing it for maximum reach.
Here are just a few things that your team can accomplish when you find the ideal training and learning platform for HR.
Carry out high-impact work across multiple industries
According to WorkRamp, up to 69% of modern organizations and businesses have invested in better learning opportunities and employee training tools. On the heels of a global pandemic and cultural work shifts like the Great Resignation, providing adequate resources has become crucial for longevity and success.
Today’s top learning and development training tools are suitable across multiple industries, including business, higher education, healthcare, finance, and many others. Not only does this allow specific companies to provide employees with niche training materials, but it also expands access to information that everyone needs for better work performance.
Think about the benefits of seamlessly and quickly communicating information about HR-related policies (like personal leave or sexual harassment), online safety and security protocols, or personal skills training.
Support team engagement with continuous learning
With adequate HR training guidelines, it’s possible to increase engagement and assist employees as they expand their own knowledge and skills. These factors are critical for protecting employee retention and engagement and preventing negative side effects like turnover or burnout.
Entrepreneur and tech platform founder Tom Healy has this to say about modern employee engagement as it relates to HR-based learning initiatives:
“...younger, talented employees want [learning and development] to be customized and personalized to them. If they wanted generalized [content[, they could find millions of hours of it for free online, and it would be better…Here is what happens in 2023 when a company “pushes out the TV cart” and makes their employees ‘watch learning and development’:
- They aren’t engaged in the content
- They can’t recall the content 72 hours later
- They feel that you don’t care about their growth
- They feel like they are back in pointless high school classes
- They feel their employer lied to them about the quality of learning and development”
Teams can no longer ask employees to watch a slew of published training videos and consider the development responsibilities finished. A more digital, creative, and nuanced approach is the gold standard, especially for a young generation of learners.
Publish unique content to increase knowledge retention
With modern HR training solutions, companies can create and publish content that even includes custom branding. Doing so allows HR specialists to differentiate onboarding and corporate content so that it’s not simply run-of-the-mill “human resources speak.”
Plus, it gives businesses the freedom to infuse developmental material with corporate values that are critical for team cohesion.
The goal is to create an end result that’s memorable and valuable, serving as an online learning experience that team members actually retain and use. Employees might have hesitations about investing in a long or laborious training course. Making it entertaining and engaging reshapes the experience to make it more of an opportunity (rather than a burden) which increases course effectiveness.
Benefits of using a learning management system (LMS) in HR
At this point, you might be able to guess how we feel about lackluster HR materials. There’s just no reason for them, especially when learning modules can be unique, memorable, and highly valuable for employee skills and social learning.
In addition to these advantages, there are many more perks to using a training and development platform like CYPHER.
Benefit 1: Increased employee productivity and performance
When employees don’t have the training and resources they need to fulfill their responsibilities, productivity takes a nosedive. That’s because it’s much harder to satisfy expectations when you don’t actually understand what those terms are—or how to accomplish them.
Workplace data tells the story of the relationship between reliable training and in-office productivity. When employees have adequate tools, research shows that the hours they spend working result in more successful milestones, better sales, and increased revenue.
As leaders, give employees the learning experience they need to grow the company as a whole.
Benefit 2: More engagement and job satisfaction
The relationship between employee training and engagement has been established by research and employee feedback surveys time and again. The Society of Human Resources points out that while engagement and satisfaction technically differ, both metrics rise when adequate training is accessible.
When employees are adequately prepared for their expected tasks, it’s easier to find enjoyment and fulfillment in a job well done. Additionally, companies that prioritize investment in development may also be more likely to offer competitive benefits, career perks, and even better financial incentives.
Benefit 3: Lower employee turnover rates
Undeniably, one of the most pressing factors for employee turnover in today’s marketplace is lack of employee training and resources. Over time, frustration builds, and workers pursue opportunities elsewhere in the hopes that they’ll have better access to training, support, and development.
To limit turnover at your organization, equip everyone right out of the gate. With workforce training, you can limit turnover by:
- Helping employees upskill or build their knowledge base
- Using competency-based learning methods
- Creating personalized learning programs for real-time employee feedback and goal setting
- Establishing more internal communication about policies and changes
Benefit 4: Increased organizational effectiveness
When employees know what they’re doing, productivity increases. Training courses help organizations save time, reserve important resources, minimize waste, and eliminate performance errors. Not to mention, it's helpful to track learner progress to get a high-level view of where the team stands.
Organizational efficiency also contributes to the bottom line by mitigating waste, protecting assets, and boosting customer satisfaction.
If your company is experiencing issues in any of these areas, explore the root cause. Ask whether more intensive training administration could help prevent costly mistakes or simply get everyone working and collaborating as one cohesive team.
Different types of HR tools for your tech stack
HR managers and people leaders can choose from a variety of different applications to satisfy development requirements. While some platforms specialize in one particular function (like on-site training), others comprehensively cover multiple training tasks and scenarios.
Before deciding, think about how easily you want to integrate training with other essential tasks and responsibilities. Consider the flexibility of each type of tool, how the tech delivers skills training, and how important automation is to implementation. When you use CYPHER, you’ll benefit from seamless integrations to thousands of enterprise applications in complex ecosystems.
In the sections below, check out the most common differences between different HR training tools.
Learning management systems (LMS)
A learning management system, or LMS, is a tech platform designed to deliver content and curriculum to online learners. TrustRadius defines a corporate LMS this way:
“Corporate learning management systems allow companies to address their needs for knowledge management and employee training within one platform. These systems are designed to provide employees with easy access to resource materials, whenever they need them.”
An LMS is different from single-use platforms in that it’s typically comprehensive, even if it’s web-based. This means that course creators can plan, deliver, launch, and share content within one license. LMS platforms also include ways to manage individual learners, providing secure access to set courses or learning pathways.
Skill assessment and testing tools
Skills assessment tools are another option for information sharing, but they may be more helpful in slightly different contexts. For example, a company might employ a skills-based assessment to measure transferable skills of prospective job applicants. This can be helpful when applicants, like software engineers or web designers, need to showcase hard skills that would eventually impact job performance.
Some skills assessment platforms may be limited to evaluation processes, rather than having curriculum delivery capabilities. For uninterrupted delivery of new training materials, companies may need to look beyond basic testing tools.
Learn how CYPHER guides learners with intelligent recommendations and upskilling.
Tips and best practices for HR development tools
Many modern workers point to lack of training opportunities as the reason for why their personal career progression faces delays and setbacks. Over time, dissatisfied workers start to look elsewhere for chances to grow, resulting in higher turnover rates and delayed company growth.
In the very near future, adhering to best practices for HR-related development, training tools, and course creation will distinguish people-forward companies from the rest. If you want to attract and retain top talent, applying these reminders is crucial.
- Be proactive rather than reactive. Have foundational development software tools in place, well before red flags begin to appear within teams or departments.
- Regularly collaborate with managers to identify skills gaps on current or future teams. Use a digital learning platform to close these gaps, providing valuable information that employees need to improve productivity.
- Promote skills mastery through personalized learning paths. Leverage important training content to help learners accelerate their career goals or have a more profound impact in their roles.
- Include employees in the planning process, and always request valuable feedback once training is complete. Allow employees to weigh in on what lessons would make a tangible difference in their work performance or environment. Incorporate communication tools to encourage real-time feedback.
- Adapt to unique learning styles, recognizing that not all employees approach training with the same mindset, goals, or attitudes. Having a self service knowledge center also empowers employees who prefer an independent route.
Remember, the goal of your HR training or development program should be to create courses that build skills, increase corporate buy-in, and expand future possibilities. Whenever possible, satisfy these objectives with engaging platforms that put the learner at the center of the process.
Qualities to look for in your next HR training platform
Narrowing down your employee training tool options might seem tough, but prioritizing the values that guide your company’s people policies can help. Make it an easier choice by asking the following questions.
- Is the training tool adaptable and scalable over time? Eventually, your employee roster is likely to grow and change as the needs of your team members shift. Any suitable LMS should tailor to both corporate and personal growth, providing tools and teaching options to suit your needs.
- Are online training courses secure for both internal and external users? Whether you use an instructor led training or self-paced instruction model, security is paramount. Any trustworthy learning platform should respect proprietary information and safeguard employee data.
- Do targeted training programs offer a high level of personalization? At the same time, learning and development should be unique—and even a bit fun. Engage employees with personalization that supports various career paths and creates enjoyable experiences through rewards-based learning.
- Can the platform help with compliance training and tracking? Many employers have compliance and regulatory standards that employees must satisfy. Online learning platforms can provide instruction, quiz learners, and keep the organization up-to-date on compliance standards that regularly change.
Ultimately, the goal for your learning and development tool should be continuous improvement for employees and the company at large. Choose a learning and development option like CYPHER that truly grows with you. CYPHER is the most comprehensive and modern learning and development platform for businesses that offers personalized skills development and sophisticated automation to help you reach your learning goals more efficiently.
Foster professional growth in the learning and development process
At CYPHER, we believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit of new, exciting knowledge. As a result, the process of acquiring new information (even if it’s for an employer or professional use case) should be engaging and personable, prioritizing real human relationships at every step along the journey.
CYPHER is unique in that it offers a human connection, regardless of instructional delivery. Interpersonal communication happens in a variety of ways, including:
- Built-in messaging and bidirectional email integration
- Click-to-chat features for instant feedback and collaborative learning
- In-platform networking with the ability to add friends and see who’s online
- Chat rooms, blogs, and online forums for continuous idea sharing
- AI-powered training to accelerate time to instruction
By giving trainers more time through sophisticated automation, businesses can drive employee engagement with gamification and track results individually, across teams, and throughout the entire organization.
Automation, personalization, and skills mastery
Creating learning experiences that prioritize knowledge acquisition alongside human partnership is invaluable. By leveraging powerful automations, instructors and content authors reserve more time and energy for the work that matters most—relating to real people by providing personalized instruction.
Additionally, CYPER also helps business leaders prioritize the importance of tracking learner progress and performance, especially as it relates to mastery. In most cases, HR professionals and training organizations need to show progress and results as they align to business outcomes. When these departments successfully address skills development gaps—this is where growth is most significant. Not to mention, proven ROI improves employee retention and career development, which are positive results for both people and businesses.
Level up your employee training software
Teaching and training can be cumbersome and time-consuming processes, especially when you don’t have the best resources in place to develop, manage, and track them. But these steps are pivotal since they give employees the resources to excel and stay innovative.
The right LMS or corporate training solution should always align with corporate values while providing an exceptional, human-centric experience for employees and learners. With CYPHER, these important goals are possible and achievable.
In a digitally diverse market, it’s time to deliver training information in the way that modern learners expect. With a range of products and solutions for multiple channels and industries, CYPHER revolutionizes the process of training employees and increasing learner engagement.
