Digital signage for employee learning opportunities

Organizations face the constant need to recruit and retain skilled workers, and in the past years, this has become a growing challenge. In fact, estimates show that it can quickly reach an 85-million-person shortage by 2030 (Kornferry.)

As a result, employee training and development opportunities have become increasingly important for businesses looking to stay competitive in the marketplace. While sourcing and retaining top talent can be difficult, investing in an employee development program that delivers relevant technical training opportunities can bridge the gap and unlock the workforce's potential.

In this guide, we're going to look at various things, including how developing employees, simplifying the learning process, and investing in employee growth can help businesses increase productivity, boost growth, and even improve the bottom line.

We're also going to look at the role of screens, especially digital signage, within the context of professional development opportunities.

But we'll begin by talking about what employee training and development programs are, and why they are important.

What are employee development opportunities?

Employee development opportunities are structured learning initiatives designed to improve employees’ knowledge. The overall goal is to help employees acquire new skills, improve existing ones, and become better at their jobs.

These opportunities vary from company to company but usually involve planned training programs and developmental activities that contribute to a team's overall growth.

The initiatives may focus on customer service training, soft skills development, certifications and advanced degrees, or technical training. These employee development opportunities enable individuals to:

• Improve their professional acumen
• Achieve higher performance levels 
• Perform better at their jobs
• Remain the top performers in the job market

Why are employee training programs so important?

Employee training and development efforts are so important for both workers in an organization, and the company as a whole. Even though they often require significant investment to get off the ground ($1,252 per employee, according to the Association for Talent Development) the payoff is massive.

Recognizing the significance of these programs can help leaders make informed decisions and develop strategies that optimize the potential of their workforce.

These are the key reasons why businesses need an employee training program:

Organizational growth and adaptability

Growth is a critical part of a business’ lifecycle; experts even suggest that it should be priority one for startups (FasterCapital.)  Structured learning and development programs help organizations equip their employees with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to adapt to changing market conditions. This means the company can grow rapidly and adapt quickly, as its workforce is on top of current trends. 

Increased employee engagement and retention

When organizations provide learning opportunities, they show employees how much their growth is valued. This focus on employee investment can lead to increased engagement.

And we’ve seen that engaged employees are more likely to remain with the company, demonstrate higher levels of productivity, and contribute to a positive work culture (source).

Increased productivity and performance

Training initiatives allow employees to acquire new skills and refine existing ones, which leads to improved productivity and overall performance.

The programs also let employees explore and discover more efficient ways to deliver value to the company, do their job better and beat out the competition. These are always good for an organization. 

Leadership and succession planning

Employee training programs are very important for organizations looking to grow without buckling under their own weight. They help to develop future leaders within the organization by giving leadership training, bringing them up to speed on management-level practices, and empowering them to make the kinds of decisions necessary to lead teams. 

By identifying high-potential employees and providing them with relevant leadership training, organizations can ensure smooth succession planning and maintain continuity in key positions.

Attracting top talent

Another reason for companies to train employees is that it helps attract skilled professionals seeking personal and professional growth. Businesses that invest in their employee development gain a competitive edge by attracting the best talent in the industry, something that’s very hard to do without impeccable company PR.

Meeting compliance and industry standards

Some industries have specific regulations and compliance requirements, and organizations in these spaces are doubly incentivized to offer training and development to their employees.. These programs will ensure that employees understand and adhere to established guidelines, reducing legal risks while maintaining industry standards.

Minimizing skills gap

An employee training program can also help minimize the skills gap within organizations. Businesses often expect big things from their employees, and when employees are unable to deliver, it can stall the company’s progress, growth, and profitability. 

Training development programs ensure that teams can keep up with the business’ expectations, essentially making the workforce as competent as they need to be.

Higher job satisfaction

Employees in companies with a robust training and development program also have higher job satisfaction (source) and it’s not hard to see why. Employee training shows that the organization is committed to the growth and development of its employees, making workers feel valued and supported in their professional growth.

4 employee development program guidelines

It’s critical to properly plan and execute employee training programs for several reasons. Arguably one of the biggest is that you want your program to actually help employees upskill. Organizations spend over $1000 per employee trained, and it would be a massive waste if that amounted to no real improvement.

As a result, it’s important to get the training and development initiatives right from the get-go. In this section, we’ll discuss some guiding principles that can help.

Identify training needs and set clear objectives

To conduct comprehensive and effective training, it’s important to pinpoint the gaps and areas of improvement within the organization. Do employees need mentorship from more experienced team members? Or will they benefit more from e-learning courses? Defining clear objectives will help align training programs to address these needs effectively.

Design engaging and relevant training programs

While creating training programs, it’s also important to use diverse methods to keep them engaging and easy to follow. These could include: 

• Interactive workshops
• On the job training
• Role-playing exercises
• Case studies, and simulations. 

Blending different learning approaches can also help cater to the unique learning styles and preferences of participants.

Encourage continuous learning and knowledge sharing

It’s also important to promote a culture of continuous learning by providing opportunities for ongoing professional development. This means encouraging employees to share their acquired knowledge and skills with their peers, fostering collaboration and growth across the organization. Mentorship programs are a great way to do this.

Include leadership assessments

Leadership assessments can help measure participants' strengths, evaluate their skills, and identify areas of improvement. Perhaps participants didn’t quite understand a portion of the training program and a different approach is necessary.

It’s also a good idea to use a 360-degree feedback software system for a comprehensive view of the program.

Top 10 employee development opportunities

Now, let’s get into all the wonderful opportunities companies have in the field of employee training and development. As the professional landscape evolves, new employee development opportunities are continuing to emerge, and the best programs incorporate new opportunities with tried and true learning programs. 

Here are some development opportunities that companies can explore in 2024 and beyond.

1. Online courses and e-learning platforms

Your organization can leverage the power of technology to provide access to e-learning platforms and curated online courses. The beauty of these platforms is that they are readily accessible anywhere and employees can learn at their own pace.

2. Mentorship and coaching programs

One effective strategy is pairing experienced employees with junior team members to foster professional growth through mentorship. Your organization can also provide online coaching programs focused on skill development and leadership enhancement.

The benefit of this is that it is usually done as a form of on-the-job training, which can help with teaching employees anything from safety training to leadership skills, even if they are learning something entirely different.

3. Subsidized degrees

Businesses can provide financial support to their employees to pursue degrees and certifications related to their jobs. With the average masters' degree costing upward of $59,000 (source), this opportunity is particularly helpful for employees who are passionate about taking their careers to the next level. Subsidized degrees offer professional development and help employees acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their jobs effectively.

4. Leadership development and management training

We’ve already discussed the importance of leadership and management training in an organization. However, how the program is structured is also critical because it could potentially mean the future of the organization. 

Here are some steps to consider when setting up a leadership development program:

• Conduct a needs assessment
• Identify promising employees
• Create competency models
• Develop a tailored curriculum
• Incorporate experiential learning
• Promote accessibility to current leadership

5. Professional certifications and qualifications

Professional certifications, like degrees, can help employees advance in their fields, enhancing both their knowledge and skill, and overall ability to contribute to organizational growth.

6. Participation in industry conferences and workshops

Employers should encourage individuals and teams to attend industry conferences and workshops for a wide range of reasons. From networking to gaining industry insights and staying up to date on current events, these events can be just as valuable training and development vehicles. Plus, they can be easier to set up and promote, compared to other initiatives on this list.

7. Soft skills training

Communication, adaptability and teamwork are three of the most important soft skills to possess in any workplace (Indeed.) Including employee training and development programs that focus on these can enhance overall effectiveness and professionalism in the workplace, and ensure that things get done. 

Here are some other important soft skills to focus on:

• Emotional intelligence
• Creativity
• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Work ethic
• Problem-solving
• Leadership

One of the best development methods for soft skills is on the job training. Using digital displays at work, such as digital signage, can be incredibly useful for an on the job training session or offering useful learning resources on the fly.

8. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing DEI training programs is very critical in today’s workplace because 76% of employees and job seekers consider diversity when weighing job offers (LinkedIn), and companies with diverse teams report greater innovation revenue (BCG).

DEI initiatives promote an inclusive work environment and cultivate cultural sensitivity and awareness among employees. Plus, statistically speaking, it can lead to better organizational performance.

9. Cross-functional training

Cross functional training can be far more effective than instructor-led training, especially when the goal is to develop employees' ability to collaborate. A simple way to implement cross functional training is to have employees increasingly be trained across different departments and functions.

The end point is simple: to enhance their understanding of the business and expose them to different aspects of the organization. If done right, cross functional training can lead to improved problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

10. Health and wellness programs

Supporting employee well-being by offering health and wellness programs can be helpful for employees who work in demanding and high-performance roles. Even though it’s not strictly training and development, it can be equally, if not more, effective at boosting overall performance and showing employees how much the organization values them.

These initiatives can include: 

• Mental health awareness
• Stress management
• Work-life balance seminars
• Physical well-being activities.

Digital signage: Simplifying employee training

There are so many employee training and development programs that employers can implement for their workforce. But regardless of the approach, three problems you’ll often run into are:

• Information overload
• Workforce resistance
• Lack of employee engagement

It’s very difficult to get these right because employees get overwhelmed by the training material and balancing it with their KPIs. Additionally, they see the new initiatives as a burden; yet another thing management wants from them. 

But digital signage offers a simple but effective solution: Highly engaging training information delivered in a bit-sized manner that’s easy to comprehend and digest. By using digital displays strategically placed in the workplace, you can improve communication, engagement, and knowledge retention among your employees. 

How digital signage improves employee learning

Consistent training content

With digital signage, you can be sure of training content delivery across several branches and locations, departments, or even teams. Since it’s digital, you won’t need to print and distribute training materials to relevant employees. You can simply hop into your digital signage management software's CMS and send out the relevant content.

Better information retention 

Digital signage allows businesses to convey training content through stunning visuals, graphics and videos, making the information easier to understand and remember. Considering that info overload drastically reduces how much employees are able to take in and remember, introducing digital signage makes that so much better.

Self-paced learning 

There’s nothing quite like being able to learn on your own at a comfortable pace. And thanks to digital signage, you employees have another way to access this self-paced level of learning without feeling like they need to play catch up. 

Promoting interactivity

One of the core benefits of digital signage is its ability to promote interaction, whether it’s an interactive wall or Digital Out of Home Content. Your company can use interactive digital signage in training sessions and engage, take quizzes and polls, and facilitate an overall dynamic learning environment.

Incorporating digital signage into your employee training and development

There are a myriad of ways you can work digital signage into your current training programs, and you can get a lot more ideas from our post on using digital signage for employee training.

But, here are 10 quick tips that you can use to include digital signage in training right now. 

1. Training schedule and reminders: Display upcoming training sessions, workshops, and events on your digital signage screens.
2. Course information: Showcase details about available courses, including descriptions, instructors, and schedules, letting participants know what to expect.
3. Learning resources: Share links and QR codes on your digital signage that lead to online learning platforms, e-books, or training materials.
4. Employee success stories: Your digital signage can feature success stories of employees who have benefited from training programs, encouraging others to join in.
5. Interactive quizzes and challenges: You can display interactive quizzes or challenges and reinforce learning through gamification.
6. Skill development tips: Offer tips and best practices for skill development on your screens. You can also rotate content with actionable advice on improving specific skills.
7. Leadership training messages: Use your digital signage for inspiration by sharing quotes, insights, and messages related to leadership development.
8. Onboarding information: Digital signage can be very helpful for new hires when you display onboarding information and details about company culture, policies, and key contacts.
9. Professional development opportunities:  Consider advertising external conferences, webinars, and industry events, and highlight opportunities for employees to expand their knowledge.
10. Soft skills training: Provide tips and strategies for developing soft skills, rotating content on critical skills like communication, teamwork, time management, etc.

4 Common challenges with employee development

We’ve done nothing but praise employee development programs so far. But it’s also important to remember that your organization may encounter various challenges while implementing these programs. Recognizing them allows leaders to adapt and overcome obstacles effectively. 

Here are four common challenges that organizations face when developing employees:

Resistance to change 

Some employees may resist changes or show reluctance to the new learning opportunities, especially when they require a lot of adjustment. One solution could be to foster a learning culture that shows the benefits of continuous growth and development.

Time constraints and competing priorities

Finding sufficient time for training can be a challenge in organizations that have tight schedules and competing priorities. Proper planning, flexible training options, and prioritization of learning opportunities can help overcome these time constraints.

Ensuring employee motivation and active participation

Another challenge you might run into is keeping employee motivation high enough to maintain active participation throughout the training programs. This is where interactive and engaging training methodologies can truly shine. Digital signage, coupled with strategies like recognizing achievements and providing incentives can help maintain enthusiasm.

Evaluating the effectiveness of training programs

It can be sometimes difficult to confirm the effectiveness of your programs. After all, if they don’t move the needle, why bother? The key is to set things up from the start. That may include clear benchmarks, feedback mechanisms, and regular assessments of technical skills learned.

Supercharge your employee development programs with ScreenCloud

Investing in employee training and development is crucial in today's dynamic and remote work environment. Thankfully, there are tons of opportunities for companies to dip their toes in the water, or jump into the deep end. One of them is digital signage.

Plus, with ScreenCloud, digital signage is more than just an effective training and development tool. Our digital signage software can help repurpose your digital signage for collaborative meetings, internal communication, employee recognition, and even wayfinding in retail establishments.

Sign up for a demo today and see why over 10,000+ companies worldwide trust ScreenCloud with their digital signage management.