| Here's how to summarize in ten words what it takes | | | | or manager, have another employee assigned in |
| to overcome today's hiring problems: a happy | | | | advance to answer questions when you're not |
| manager with good training skills and great training. | | | | around.o Let employees know what's happening and |
| Good training is the key to keeping employees happy | | | | what's going to happen over these first days and |
| and more productive. The benefits of good training | | | | weeks. |
| also include lower turnover, higher sales, better service | | | | Don't forget the details that they are wondering about. |
| for your customers, fewer employee no-shows and | | | | For example, tell them when they will be leaving on |
| sick days, a cleaner work environment and less theft. | | | | their first day, what hours they will be working next |
| Here are seven characteristics that they must have: | | | | week, when and how much they will get paid, and so |
| 1. They will train the right person for the right job. In | | | | forth.o Give them a tour of the whole office, |
| other words, don't just take anybody who walks in the | | | | introducing them to the rest of the staff. They will feel |
| door. You should have an innate sense of who is likely | | | | more like part of the team.o Issue an employee training |
| to work out for you. | | | | manual and give an overview of the full training, what |
| 2. A good trainer is patient. No matter what happens | | | | they will be expected to learn and when.o Give them |
| or how long it takes for new employees to learn their | | | | background information about the company, its history |
| tasks, never lose your patience. Good trainers, like | | | | and philosophy. Employees integrate better when they |
| good managers enjoy themselves. | | | | see the big picture.o Quickly review rules and policies, |
| 3. They are well organized and methodical. First, tell | | | | but don't belabor the point.o Now begin the actual |
| trainees what they're going to learn. Then show them | | | | training. Use the tell, show, and do method, telling them |
| how it's done. Finally, let the trainee do the task while | | | | what the task is, showing them how to do it, and |
| you watch. Tell, show, and do are the three basic | | | | having them do it.o Show employees how you are |
| steps of training. | | | | checking off tasks learned during the first training |
| 4. They give frequent feedback. Don't breath down | | | | session. When trainees see that training is not a |
| the necks of your trainees, but be there then tell them | | | | haphazard affair, but rather a conscious, thought-out |
| when they are doing something wrong, and when they | | | | process, they'll have more respect for it.o Lunch |
| did something right. | | | | breaks or coffee breaks can be awkward for new |
| 5. The good trainer maintains and communicates high | | | | people. Assign "buddies" or other coworkers to |
| expectations. Higher expectations keep up the interest | | | | accompany them, someone other than the trainer to |
| of your employees and push them to achieve more, | | | | help them feel welcome.o At the end of the day, |
| but be sure to communicate what those expectations | | | | revert to the first task or easiest task learned so that |
| are, or you will just frustrate the employee, and | | | | the day ends on an upbeat, and ask for any |
| yourself. | | | | comments or questions about the first day on the job. |
| 6. They use all the tools available. Training manuals, | | | | Hiring a new employee costs money, for |
| check-off sheets, or procedures should not be ignored | | | | advertisements, management time spent in interviews, |
| in the quest for short-cuts. | | | | training expenses, lower productivity as the employee |
| 7. They also devote the necessary time up-front. Don't | | | | learns the task, and so forth. |
| be in too much of a hurry to get people in to their | | | | Only after a new employee has worked for at least |
| position. Take the necessary time to get the new | | | | three months or more will you begin to recoup these |
| employee well trained from the beginning. | | | | employee "start-up" costs. Studies show that most |
| When working with the new employees, the first hours | | | | turnover in today's market occurs within the fist thirty |
| of the first day on the job are crucial. Studies show | | | | days, and that costs the company. |
| that new employees listen to you most carefully and | | | | Happiness in the workplace is the most important |
| follow your instructions to the letter, during the first two | | | | ingredient needed to keep good people, and a happy |
| to four hours of the job. The second most attentive | | | | workplace starts at the beginning, in first few hours of |
| time will be during the first two to four days on the job. | | | | the first day of training. |
| Here are some tips to help you succeed in those first | | | | Copyright©2007 by Joe Love and JLM & |
| crucial hours of the training period:o If you're a trainer | | | | Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. |