6 Employee Training Goals to Support Retention in 2023

It’s time to set training and learning goals for the new year. Companies have spent the last two years in survival mode, working to mitigate the challenges and problems caused by the pandemic. And while the pandemic certainly caused many companies to adjust the day-to-day processes of their corporate environments, it also shed light on essential values and priorities in the workplace.

Training is one key element that proved, in the last year, to be more important than people realized prior to the pandemic. When offices were sent home, employees were working from different locations, and companies shifted their models to accommodate hybrid and remote work styles, it caused companies to re-evaluate their processes. This was a natural and necessary shift.

Many companies discovered that existing processes, work management strategies, and even technological tools didn’t suit their needs in the modern workplace.

That’s why companies should prioritize training at the beginning of the year. It can help bridge gaps caused when employees work in different locations (remote, hybrid, and in-office teams). A training strategy can improve employee retention rates, help make onboarding more efficient, and improve the employee’s experience overall.

Here are six training goals to set in the new year and why they can help you reach your business objectives.

6 Employee Training Goals to Boost Retention in 2023

1. Make it easy to measure learning success

To-do lists are effective because crossing off tasks as they are completed keeps work on track. It’s essential to set measurable, attainable goals for each step of the learning journey. In your learning and development strategy, craft goals for each group of learners so that managers can measure compliance each step of the way. Whether the goals have to do with completing a certain type of course, a certain set of courses, or learning within a specific time frame, clear objectives help both employees and managers succeed.

It’s important to supply managers with tools that make goal-tracking straightforward and simple. If you’re looking for an LMS platform to support your employee training needs, invest in one that offers integrated compliance tracking and reporting so that managers can determine when goals are met and who on their team is lagging behind. ExpertusONE’s integrated management tools make it easy for learning leaders to reach out to employees and follow up on compliance if courses aren’t completed.

2. Promote employee engagement with interactive learning and development

Whether your company operates from an office or with hybrid and remote teams, employee engagement is essential. Employees want to feel like they belong, want to know that they are an integral part of the workplace community, and want to take an interest in their work. Many employees associate corporate training with mind-numbing, day-long courses that take away from active working time. This doesn’t have to be the case, especially because digital LMS tools make it easier than ever to implement engaging training strategies.

Interactive learning tools help companies engage employees even when they are working from a distance. Find learning tools that facilitate engagement through video or audio content, interactive quizzes, and polls, and even live video conferencing to help answer any outstanding questions. ExpertusONE’s digital LMS platform promotes engagement with integrated learning tools like polls, quizzes, and an LMS with video conferencing feature so that employees don’t feel isolated in their learning journey.

3. Encourage healthy competition by creating fun training initiatives

Competition motivates employees to be the best on their team, in their industry, or among their peers. Competitive learning initiatives can help employees feel engaged with their colleagues and with the learning content. At the beginning of the year, set training objectives for employees, teams, and managers to help motivate them to learn. Encourage additional learning and engagement by ensuring that the course catalog isn’t limited to required courses but also has bonus courses that employees can take based on their interests. With this in mind, make sure that competitive training initiatives aren’t limited to compliance goals but encompass other goals like completing a significant number of courses or achieving an “expert” status on a topic.

ExpertusONE’s enterprise LMS platform offers integrated gamification capabilities that make competition easy to facilitate. Companies can share the learners’ achievements on a leaderboard to reward the competition and encourage other employees to participate. In the new year, consider building an LMS gamification strategy into your employee training goals to promote engagement and healthy competition.

4. Give employees access to a variety of courses beyond onboarding or mandatory compliance training

Digital LMS software offers a number of features that in-person learning tools could never offer, but one of the most important elements is that it can house a wide range of course content. Employees can access any courses their company makes available at any time or however fit their schedule. This is an essential part of training success in the next year, and it can help boost retention as well. Instead of providing only mandatory compliance training or onboarding courses, companies can provide a wealth of content to support their employees’ needs and interests. Consider adding workplace management courses to help employees boost productivity or better manage their time. Wellness courses that offer insights for stress management, balancing work and life, or working from home can show employees that the company supports every aspect of their life.

In this new year, companies must think outside of the box and look at their training strategy creatively. It’s time to ask, “What learning gaps can we fill with training?” and “How can we support employees with training tools?” A wider course library is a straightforward way to provide employees with the support they need, whether they are working in the office, at home, or on a hybrid schedule.

5. Develop leadership skills among employees

Developing leadership skills is an important aspect of employee training and development, as it can help create a positive work culture and increase employee engagement. Here are a few ways that companies can develop leadership skills among their employees:

Management training: Providing management training programs that teach the basic principles of leadership, such as effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving can help managers develop the skills they need to lead their teams effectively.
Leadership development programs: Offering leadership development programs that provide in-depth training and coaching can help employees develop the skills they need to advance to leadership roles within the company.
Mentoring and coaching: Providing mentoring and coaching opportunities for employees can help them develop their leadership skills by learning from experienced leaders within the company.
On-the-job training: Giving employees the opportunity to take on leadership roles and responsibilities within their current positions can help them develop their leadership skills through hands-on experience.
Exposure to diverse leadership styles: Exposing employees to a diverse range of leadership styles and perspectives can help them develop a more comprehensive understanding of leadership and adapt their style to different situations.

All of these leadership development strategies can help employees develop their leadership skills and prepare them for leadership roles within the company, which can lead to increased employee engagement and retention.

6. Craft an upskilling strategy

Upskilling is the buzziest new word in the world of employee training for a reason: it can help boost retention in this time of highly competitive talent searches. As a result, offering an opportunity for upskilling can help companies boost retention rates. Upskilling, in a nutshell, is the process of learning new strategies, skills, and qualifications to bring your career to the next level. It’s also a practical way to help employees explore possibilities in their careers and at the company.

Company leaders can craft an upskilling training strategy by providing courses and certifications that correspond with advancement in a role or overall career. In fact, companies can use a digital LMS platform to craft clear pathways toward advancement—like a certain set of certifications that must be completed before a promotion is possible—so that employees can clearly see what it takes to grow in their careers. This can boost retention because, according to McKinsey, one of the biggest factors in an employee’s decision about staying at (or leaving) a company is whether or not there is an opportunity for advancement.

As you revamp and reevaluate your employee training strategies in the new year, consider these six training goals and craft a more engaging, more helpful training plan for your employees. Accessibility, engagement, competition, varied courses, and upskilling opportunities are critical components of a successful training program. Look toward the future of work and anticipate the needs of your employees—whether personal needs like tools for stress management or career-focused needs like certifications within the industry—and respond with thoughtful training opportunities.

Interested in finding out how ExpertusONE can support your new training goals? Contact us for a demo.