Imagine if your job involved training employees to make split-second decisions that literally mean life or death.
This is where the director of talent management at Air Methods found herself. The company, based in Colorado, trains pilots to operate medical response helicopters.
Understandably, Air Methods did not want to adopt a “one size fits all” approach to their training methods. They opted for custom learning experiences to ensure their employees didn’t just know the answers—but also what to do with that knowledge.
This success story is just one of many throughout the corporate world. Your company may not deal directly with life and death, but does that mean your employee training plan deserves any less attention?
In this post, we’ll discuss why the investment in custom training content is more than worth it. Read on to learn more about developing a training program that suits your unique business!
Why Your Company Needs Custom Learning Content
From training helicopter pilots to Cuomo’s masterclass in multimedia learning design, there’s no limit to the setting for custom learning experiences.
Of course, there are plenty of ready-made training materials you could purchase for your staff. But how much is that content going to teach them about your company’s culture and values?
Wouldn’t it be better to start them off with training that they will connect to? Shouldn’t you provide training that will help them truly care about (and adopt) your corporate ideals?
If you’re still unsure, here’s an important figure to note. Only 12% of American workers think their company did a “great” job during the onboarding process.
That means 88% of companies failed to hit the “great” mark—which leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Benefits of Customized Training
Would you like to be in that 12% of companies that do a “great” job during the hiring and training process? Here are 4 ways custom learning experiences are superior to traditional training methods.
1. Integrate Corporate Identity & Values
Generic training manuals contain someone else’s ideals, not those of your company. With training materials tailor-made for your company, you can inculcate those essential values from Day One.
The more awareness each new employee has about your company culture, the more they’ll feel like they belong. The most motivated employees are the ones whose goals and beliefs are closely aligned with the organization they work for.
This is your chance to educate your new hires about your company’s unique mission. With course material that centers around your corporate message, you can forge emotional connections that will motivate and inspire your employees.
2. Encourage Brand Loyalty & Pride
No two brands are exactly alike. From the first day of training, custom training materials allow you to reinforce your brand identity and what sets you apart from your competitors.
Incorporating your company logo, slogan, and other branding elements is just start. You can include examples and experiences from within your company, rather than relying on unrelated third parties.
This is also a chance to explain your company’s long-term goals and how the new employee can be a part of that success. Workers are in a better position to represent your company and achieve those goals when they understand the core values.
With those important emotional connections forged, you’ll create a team that’s loyal to your brand and proud of your mission.
3. Define & Address Specific Needs of the Employee
Every new employee you onboard has a different way of learning. With customized training programs, you have a flexible solution that can be adapted to meet the needs of any learner.
Depending on the experience and skill level of each new employee, you can adjust the difficulty level of your course materials. If necessary, you can also adopt a flexible timeframe so each employee can learn at his or her own pace.
Custom learning experiences allow a variety of options beyond a traditional classroom. You can introduce mobile or online-based instruction or immersive one-on-one instruction. This enables you to provide “blended” training experiences that suit the needs of each learner.
In the long run, you’ll likely find that this approach saves time, cuts costs, and increases your ROI.
4. Equip Employees for Real-Life Situations
A final benefit of customized training is you can adapt it to suit the unique needs of your company and your clientele.
You can use this time to sharpen new hires’ skills and improve their performance. They’ll learn how to solve problems your way, rather than the way they did things at their previous job.
Better yet, you can design a curriculum that centers around real-life scenarios they’ll face once they begin working. When they can clearly see the connection between the training and how they’ll be able to use it, they’ll be that much more motivated to get started.
The result? You’ll have a team of competent employees that feel empowered to give their best. You’re also likely to notice higher retention rates and opportunities to promote from within.
Are You Ready to Create Custom Learning Experiences?
If you want to take your company to the next level, you’ve got to provide next-level training for your staff members.
The days of prepackaged training plans are gone. To build a successful business in the years to come, you need corporate training content that your team can connect with.
With custom learning experiences, you have the chance to promote your company culture to those who matter most—your employees! Once they adopt those values as their own, you’ll be left with a team of loyal, dedicated individuals who love where they work.
Are you ready to take the leap? Wondering what’s involved in developing custom training content? Click here to learn more about our services and how we can transform your current training plan.