Employee training and development is an essential part of high-growth companies. Despite the fact that training and development programs require large investments, organizations continue to invest in the programs—because it yields good returns. Employees fall back on deadlines, projects get delayed, and the uncertainty that employees might not take training seriously are some drawbacks of offering training and development.

So why should organizations still invest in employee training and development?

Answer -- for the greater good. Training and development enhance the productivity of employees. For a short time, there might be a delay in project completion or stagnation in delivery. However, in the longer run, employees perform better. This boosts employee confidence and does better. Enhanced productivity increases the organization’s value and increases the scope for better returns and profit.

Training and development align employees’ thoughts to work towards the same goal, which sometimes is missing among team members. Career-oriented employees see training and development as an important aspect of career growth and opportunities, so they take their training seriously to do better work.

In a nutshell, employee training and development empowers both employees and organizations.

Benefits of training and development

Enhanced employee performance – Employees who undergo training and development build a greater understanding of their responsibilities and, thus, perform better at their work.

Increased employee satisfaction -- Career-oriented employees see training and development as an opportunity for career growth.

Addresses employee weakness – employees have certain workplace weakness which can be easily addressed with training. This also leads employees to value and respect their employers more. Additionally, training brings all employees at higher level and equipping every employee with overall skills, which in times, when an employee isn’t available, others can help.

Enhances creativity among employees – Regular training can fill employees with new ideas and creativity. This could directly impact work performance.

Employee retention—Employees are less likely to leave a company when they feel valued. Investing in employee training and development makes the employee see as a valuable asset to the company. Feeling valued and respected, employees are less likely to switch employers.

Employer branding – A robust training and development program helps build a good employer brand. This attracts potential new recruits and makes your company a prime consideration among new graduates who are looking to learn new skills and grow with it.

Consistency – Employees in the same team might have different views about the goals of the company or the team. Regular training brushes off confusions and aligns each employee along with the same goal, thus creating a consistency in the team. Thoughts are aligned perfectly in line with the organization’s view, which can further result in financial gain for the company.

Conclusion

Training and development might not lead to benefits in the short term, but it is immensely valuable in the long run. Hence, a robust training and development should always be there.