5 tips on how to train your employees more efficiently

Tip 1: Conceptualize without "overthinking"

Even if you want to implement a training course quickly, it is still worth allowing a little time for preparation. A structure helps you to give the training a common thread and make the content comprehensible for the learners. However, it doesn't have to be a multi-page concept that you create for the training course. This is sometimes even counterproductive, as you then concentrate more on the design than on the impact of the training. The following aspects will help you to achieve a structure without over-designing:

• Clearly define the goal of the training: determine exactly what knowledge you ultimately want to impart and what knowledge you absolutely want your colleagues to retain.
• Create a rough outline: Use a mind map tool, for example, to list all the important content to be conveyed in the training and to give your training at least a rough structure.
• Collect notes: Even before you start structuring your training course, it is worth taking notes on upcoming training topics. This will help you to work all the faster afterwards when designing and implementing the training.
• Use tools: Some solutions, for example, provide you with features that allow you to access your PowerPoint notes even in training mode so that you don't have to keep them separately.

Tip 2:Use existing materials

The same applies to the materials you want to use for training: "less is more" and "use what you already have"! For example, if you are creating training for your sales employees on a new product or service, you can simply use the slides that you have already used internally as a product manager.

If you need to create new slides, don't overload them with text-based content. Concentrate on key points and use sufficient images and graphics. It makes the most sense to accompany the slides with moving images or sound. Which brings us to the next point...

Tip 3: Video is quick and catchy

Creating videos is no longer rocket science. Video equipment is now available in every company and (almost) every colleague is able to record small sequences in sufficiently good quality. Video has therefore become more than just an alternative, especially for the creation of internal training courses. Video recording is not only more practical, it also has a much greater impact on learners when used for training: Images are processed by the human brain up to 60,000 times faster than text information.

Using video also allows you to involve your company's knowledge holders in training sessions. Simply let them speak into the camera what they would otherwise say in a business meeting.

Tip 4: Use the right training technology

eLearning is the method of choice, especially when training larger groups. However, the choice of eLearning solutions is large, as is the lack of transparency regarding their functions and qualities.

If you want to implement training courses quickly and easily via eLearning, you should use a solution that can be operated pragmatically and by non-experts and still offers company-specific functions. The following features characterize such a solution:

• As few steps as possible to complete a training course
• The focus should be on intuitive usability, for example with content editing via drag and drop. There should be no highly complicated functions.
• There should be a high level of compatibility with existing content (e.g. regarding the formats of video and slide files).
• It should be possible to provide and access finished training courses quickly.

You should also make sure that there are no deadlines for the subsequent implementation of the training courses. This is the case, for example, when using live webinars.

Tip 5: Use existing systems for training distribution

There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Therefore, rely on eLearning solutions that harmonize with the systems already available in your company.

Many providers will recommend complete eLearning solutions that include a delivery system in addition to the tool for creating the training. However, especially if you need to train quickly and pragmatically, such a system, which also involves the implementation effort of a major project, is completely oversized. It is comparable to the example of buying the road you are going to drive on when you buy a car.

Pragmatic eLearning solutions work best with the systems you already use in your company. For example, video training can easily be integrated into your intranet or CRM. If you already use a Learning Management System (LMS), your video training courses can also be made available in this system. We recommend the SlidePresenter application, which combines all these advantages.