Why Small Business Owners Should Also Invest in Employee Training


Employee training is not just for mega-corporations. Small business owners should also invest in training their workforce, for various reasons. If you want your business to be consistent, attract and retain the best employees, increase productivity, and have the opportunity to grow, employee training is pivotal. Here is a closer look at why you should invest in providing your workers with regular training sessions.

Employee Training Is Especially Recommended for Certain Industries, i.e. Machine Shops

Before looking at the general reasons why small businesses should invest in employee training, it is worth mentioning that training workers is crucial in some sectors, such as those in which employees are handling specialized tools or equipment. For instance, if you are a startup machine shop owner, you need to ensure your workers comply with official guidance and your own standards. You can only do that when you provide your employees with thorough training. In some manufacturing industries, such as aerospace and medical, certification is necessary before employees can operate new or repurposed machineryOpens in a new tab.. Having trained employees also means the operators do not require supervision, which would cost your small business more money. Furthermore, being trained in using different types of machines and best operation practices creates a safer workplace environmentOpens in a new tab..

You Get Better Employee Performance with Training

The top reason that all small businesses should invest in employee training is it creates better employee performance. Anybody who furthers their education and skills will be able to perform his or her job better, regardless of the sector and department the employee works in. When you provide regular training sessions for your employees, they will also gain more confidence in their daily responsibilities and tasks.

Training Increases Employee Engagement and Productivity

When employees are not involved with regular training sessions, their motivation can fall and they can become less happy at the workplace. That not only negatively affects them. It also affects your business. When employees are unmotivated, they become less productive. On the other hand, when employees are trained, they feel valued and become more productive and loyal to your company. When you invest in employees’ training and development, you inspire them to invest in working hard for your business.

Employees Want More Training

Following the last two points, study after study shows that employees wish their employers would provide more training opportunities. With that being the case, employees who do not receive training are unhappier. In turn, that makes them less engaged and productive. For instance, according to a study by InterCall, two-thirds of employees said that training plays a pivotal role when deciding whether to stay with a company or not. So, if lots of your employees want training and do not get it, you should most certainly consider providing it.

Training Can Provide Employees from Different Departments with a Wider Knowledge of Your Business

If your small business has multiple departments, it is a good idea to foster a collaborative environment by allowing employees to learn from one another. For example, if one team is holding a training session, it could be beneficial to open it up to employees in other departments so that they can gain a wider knowledge of your business operations. When employees better understand how all the cogs work together, they will be better equipped to achieve your company’s goals.

Training Helps Your Small Business Attract and Retain the Best Talent 

As a small business owner, it can be difficult to attract and retain the best talent. But by implementing training and development programs, you can overcome the hurdles involved in hiring and keeping employees. That creates less work for you in the long run, because high turnover means having to regularly advertise for positions and go through the interview process. It also means you can have peace of mind that you have employees on board who are loyal and do not require constant motivation and supervision.

Your Business Will Have Lower Staff Turnover 

Following on from the last point, when you train staff regularly, you should find your small business has lower staff turnover. While there will always be some employees who come and go, if you can reduce staff turnover overall, you will save great amounts of time and money that would be needed for hiring new staff and training them from scratch.

Training Can Help You Identify Employees Worthy of Promotion

When your employees are properly trained, they develop additional levels of competence over time and become highly familiar with your business operations and structure, which means it is much easier for you to identify which workers would be most suited to promotions. That reduces your workload and ensures your workforce has the acumen that you would expect for higher-positioned roles.

Trained Employees Create More Consistency

Whatever type of services or products your small business sells, the more consistent your company is across the board, the more consistent the customer or client’s experience is. When your employees are all on the same page, they can all provide the same level of high quality. When your customers associate your brandOpens in a new tab. with quality and consistency, they will remain loyal and recommend your company to others. To create consistency across your small business, you need to provide all of your employees with regular training sessions.

Training Enables Employees to Become Better Aligned with Your Company Values
 

Consistency is not just about employees being consistent in their tasks but also about being consistent in representing your small business’s values. Again, when everyone is working on the same page, it creates a reliable brand that customers will trust and be loyal to. So, when training new employees, make your company values a key part of the sessions. Also, provide a refresher training program later on to reinforce those values. Your company values could include things like how you treat your customers and your approach to diversity in the workplace.

Employee Training Enables You to Grow Your Small Business

At the end of the day, investing in employee training helps both your employees and your business. When your staff members are highly trained, it helps your small business stay ahead of the curve and beat the competition. In turn, your business will then be well placed to develop further. So, if you are looking to scale up your small business in the future, employee training can play a significant role.

Employee Training Provides Your Small Business with a Strong Return on Investment

Some small businesses think employee training is not worth the time and money it requires. But pulling together the above points, it should be clear how training improves employee engagementOpens in a new tab., increases employee productivityOpens in a new tab., and contributes towards a great company culture and customer satisfaction. It is a mistake to think of employee training as simply a cost. From a financial perspective, think of employee training as a great investment that will generate an excellent return. So, what are you waiting for? If you are not already providing training opportunities for your employees, it is about time that you did.

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Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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