Training is a necessity for any position. Whether you are a new employee being onboarded or an experienced employee needing to brush up, training will prove unavoidable. For small businesses with all team members located under the same roof, the logistics of training are not what they would be for a global corporation whose workforce is scattered geographically. This is where Web conferencing comes in.
A recent article from Techcocktail revealed a study where 533 trainers were interviewed and 63 percent used Web conferencing. It not only provides a type of integral training for new team members but greatly eases the process of retraining current employees.
Like any Web conferencing session, preparation is key to making it a success. It is vital to gather one’s thoughts, maybe write an outline of topics or talking points you intend to cover. Strong organization helps trainees follow the flow of topics discussed, and as a trainer it is vital to stick to the plan but be prepared for questions or other possible tangents that may occur.
After getting an “itinerary” in motion, check that all of your technology and connections are functioning properly. Malfunctions can take the steam out of even the best training sessions, so it vital to ensure that one’s Internet, Web cam and/or any software being used is tip top.
As for other factors to be aware of while preparing for a training session, noise level in the room is important. Much like being in the classroom, a loud noise from the hallway or a din protruding from the office next door could prove a distraction.
It is best to use anecdotal experiences; trainees won’t want to watch digital outlay after digital outlay. Real-life experiences illustrate concepts more clearly and aid in retention.
Once the training session is over, it is not actually over. A good trainer will follow up with team members after the training to first get feedback on how the course could be improved for future iterations as well as a follow up to improve employee retention.
Web conferencing and its sibling conference call services offer the enterprise world the freedom of connecting when, where and how they wish and greatly reduce travel costs. Companies invest a lot of money in team members, and much like customers it is cheaper to keep them than to find new ones. The reduced cost of training via Web conferencing would be reason enough to give it a whirl.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson