Ongoing training and professional development are essential if you want your team to remain up to date on technology and industry trends. Training programs could also boost critical thinking skills, provide networking opportunities, and help employees to feel more confident in their roles.
Motivating your team to engage in these programs, however, might be difficult. Especially if your employees already have a lot on their plates and don’t immediately see how the training applies to their jobs or career paths.
Here are 5 strategies to engage your team and share the long-term career benefits with them.
- Show Them the Benefits
Employees may not be motivated to learn if they can't see the positive impact the training could have. Therefore, you can inspire them to participate by clearly communicating this to them.
For example, training could potentially help employees get their work done more quickly and efficiently. It could increase the potential for career advancement within the company. Or it could boost business growth, opening further opportunities in the future.
Make sure that you emphasize benefits like these early on – in course descriptions and intros – but also as a reminder as courses progress.
One way of doing this is roleplaying. As employees continue their training, devise roleplaying scenarios that allow them to put their new skills to use. This can give them an immediate understanding of the importance of what they’re learning. - Incentives Can Equal Results
Offering incentives – anything from paid time off to bonuses – is another way to encourage employees to engage in training.
For more substantial education such as completing college courses or degree programs, the incentives should be more substantial as well. Rewards like potential promotions or salary increases can be powerful motivators. - Take an Interest
It is important to understand your employees’ values and which courses can improve efficiency. To do this, ask for their input and use it to guide the development of their training program.
Once the program has been implemented, continue to gather feedback, keeping an eye out for areas of improvement. - Nurture Their Personal Interests
Offering your team training that directly applies to their jobs may be beneficial, but allowing them to follow their personal passions could be a smart investment as well.
Coupling personal elective courses with job-related training could help your team become more engaged in the program, enhance their critical thinking skills, or help them to discover different roles within your company that might better suit their interests and talents. - Make Tuition Reimbursement Part of Your Benefits Package
When you include tuition assistance to your benefits package you can offer your team an opportunity to lower tuition costs.
Doing this can have other benefits as well – from tax benefits and recruitment advantages to potential increased business growth and boosts to your brand.
Learn How CTU Can Help Cover Up to 100% of Your Eligible Employees’ Tuition
Colorado Technical University offers flexible online and mobile courses and degree programs designed to help busy adults pursue their education. And best yet, CTU’s Commitment Grant, along with your company’s tuition assistance program, may cover up to 100% of eligible employees’ tuition*.
Contact the CTU Center for Corporate Engagement to learn more about creating an education alliance. Programs include:
- Degree Programs through Colorado Technical University
- Accelerated learning tech bootcamp programs through Coding Dojo or DigitalCrafts
- Continuing Medical Education through Hippo Education
*University grants or scholarships are based on established criteria as published in the University Catalog and are awarded after verification that the conditions of eligibility have been met. Students receiving a grant or scholarship, including the Commitment Grant, must continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the program. For terms and conditions of the Commitment Grant visit 4ir7.haierso.com/commitment-grant/terms-and-conditions.
CTU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states and certain foreign countries.
REQ1970309 12/2023
