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Published on: 09 May 2024, 12 mins to read

10 Employee Training Methods &

Techniques for 2024
Marialena Kanaki, Content Marketing Manager

It’s tough out there.

From tight budgets and layoffs to the surge in AI, the rapidly changing business landscape has created many
challenges for companies—an important one being employee retention.

A 2023 LinkedIn study found that 90% of organizations are concerned about employee retention. Luckily, there are
ways to ensure employee happiness and retention.

The solution? Career development.

Investing in employee growth and providing continuous learning opportunities is one of the most impactful
retention strategies. It shows employees that they are valued, rewarded and that their professional growth is an
important long-term investment.

So, how can you make the best use of your training efforts?

Let’s review the 10 best employee training methods & techniques that will give your teams the job satisfaction they
deserve.

1. On-the-Job Training

2. Instructor-Led Training (ILT)

3. Job Shadowing

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4. Gamification Training

5. eLearning

6. Microlearning

7. Simulation Training

8. Role-Playing

9. Coaching and Mentorship Programs

10. Cross-Training

Quick recap: What are employee training methods?

Simply put—employee training methods are the ways in which training is delivered to learners.

Why should technique matter? Because of individual learning styles. People tend to learn and absorb knowledge
when training is engaging and fun for them.

For employees, engaging with their training content is important as it’s tied to their role and career development.

You can use a variety of techniques to tailor the training depending on your employees’ needs and learning abilities.

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of the 10 most popular employee training methods.

10 Employee Training Methods to Upskill Your Team Members

1. On-the-Job Training
On-the-job training is one of the most expected employee training methods, giving employees the opportunity to
gain practical experience and critical thinking skills by completing real-life job-related tasks.

Most companies include on-the-job training as part of their learning, and even remote employees can mimic “on the
job” training through use of video calls and team collaboration.

For example, a new hire may meet with senior team members to complete hands-on training such as using the
tools, technology, and processes expected in their day-to-day work. Senior team members can course correct along
the way, to ensure new employees understand company protocols and preferences.

Pros:

Hands-on practice and learning experience

Cost-effective and internally resourced

Learn the businesses’ preferred approaches to job duties and problem-solving

Cons:

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Unstructured and dependent on internal resources

Success is unquantifiable

Impacts productivity for the new hire and team trainers

2. Instructor-Led Training
Instructor-led training (ILT) mimics traditional classroom training, led by an internal resource or external instructor.

Instructor-led sessions give team members the ability to gain new knowledge and ask questions specific to their job
function. They can discuss scenarios and share ideas peer-to-peer, with the added guidance of an instructor.

For example, many companies bring in external instructors to facilitate more sensitive trainings (like sexual
harassment or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trainings), so employees have an external view of expected
behaviors and approaches.

Pros:

Structured agenda

Group training, collaborative discussions, and Q&A sessions

Real-life demonstrations and tailored learning

Cons:

May be expensive, especially for large trainings or external instructors

Creating the course content can be time-intensive and costly

Reduced productivity for training resources and team members

3. Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is a traditional employee training method that enables new hires to observe and learn from
seasoned employees.

Job shadowing is a cost-effective way for employees to gain practical skills. Employees learn by seeing real-world
strategies for resolving workplace issues and scenarios.

For example, a new graphic designer might shadow a more senior graphic designer, learning about the company’s
brand style, tool set, and best practices.

Pros:

Real-world exposure to tasks and processes

Ability to ask questions as they arise

Builds relationships and collaboration

Cons:

Success is dependent on the quality of the mentor

Productivity of both the trainer and employee is impacted

Difficult to cover a wide breadth of tasks and scenarios

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4. Gamification Training
Gamification training aims to make learning fun by using popular gaming elements (e.g., scoring activities,
leaderboards, level advancement) to engage employees throughout structured training.

This collaborative training approach pays off – in 2023, Zippia found that 90% of employees say gamification makes
them more productive.

For example, a cybersecurity company might set up gamified training where junior analysts are exposed to different
cyber threats in a virtual environment. They have to thwart different security scenarios, like phishing attempts and
data breaches, and receive points and badges for effectively mitigating security issues. As employees gain points,
they’re highlighted on a leaderboard, encouraging camaraderie and healthy competition.

Pros:

Nurtures healthy competition and teamwork

Motivates employees to advance and participate

Easy to track progress and measure success

Cons:

May be expensive to initially set up

Time-consuming to develop the gaming structure

Adoption may be arbitrary (participation may be high for some employees, whereas others may not actively
participate without external motivation)

5. eLearning
eLearning (or online learning) uses digital platforms to deliver online training. It’s an increasingly popular and
effective training method, particularly for remote teams.

As more digital-native employees enter the workforce or grow in their leadership capacity, eLearning, mobile
learning, and video training are expected to enable employees to complete online courses at their own pace and
timeline.

Plus, eLearning makes it easy to measure adoption and success rates, send reminders and notifications, and
benchmark completion across your organization.

Pros:

Flexible for employees and remote workers to train at their own pace

Cost-effective for large-scale training

Success and adoption is measurable through online courses

Cons:

Requires modern technology and a decent internet connection

Limited access to instant instructor feedback

May require upfront investment to develop the course material

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6. Microlearning
Microlearning is a nod to both gamification and eLearning, by breaking down larger training courses into smaller
doses that are easily digestible.

Microlearning typically uses digital technology, video learning, or online modules to deliver short bursts of education
or reinforce key training concepts. By enabling team members to digest training information in small quantities, it
frees employees’ time, supports productivity, and increases participation and course completion.

For example, a product marketing team might help their sales teams understand product features and value cases
through quick microlearning videos. Sales members can access the content on-demand and learn on the go, while
marketing can measure whether their team is actively participating in their microlearning.

Pros:

Bite-sized content for quick absorption of information

Fits well into busy schedules

Reinforces learning through repetition and reinforcement

Cons:

Limited depth for complex topics

Dependency on the quality of content delivery

Requires employee motivation and commitment

Meet TalentLibrary™
A growing collection of ready-made courses that cover the skills
your teams need for success at work

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7. Simulation Training
Simulations are a type of experiential learning, where employees can simulate workplace processes, situations, and
customer interactions in a risk-free environment. They can react in real-time and practice likely scenarios, without
the fear of negatively impacting the business.

For example, medical professionals train on simulated emergencies, to ensure they can respond effectively, sharpen
clinical skills, and practice crisis management, without impacting an in-need person.

Simulation training boosts employees confidence, efficiency, and competency by providing a safe place for trial and
error, issue resolution, technology adoption, and communications.

Pros:

Practices real-world scenarios without impact or risk

Develops skills and decision-making under pressure

Boosts employee confidence and credibility

Cons:

Can be expensive to invest in simulation technologies

May be complex for different industries, roles, and scenarios

Lacks an emotional component to nurture culture and camaraderie

8. Role-Playing
Like simulations, role-playing is an effective training technique, placing employees in real-world scenarios to practice
handling situations.

Typically, employees are assigned roles or interactive prompts to improvise common scenarios and workplace
challenges with their colleagues. They then discuss their experience with the larger team for feedback and guidance,
before switching roles.

For example, new managers may role-play giving constructive feedback and placing employees on a fictional
performance improvement plan (PIP). This tends to be an uncomfortable and awkward conversation for less
experienced managers, and role-playing offers the critical thinking and experience needed to feel confident and
prepared.

Pros:

Improves communication and interpersonal skills, particularly around sensitive subjects

Practices empathy and immediate responses to real-world scenarios

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Gives the opportunity for discussion, immediate feedback, and guidance from more experienced team
members

Cons:

Not all employees are comfortable role-playing

Requires skilled facilitators to put team members at ease and implement scenarios

May be hard to set up for certain types of roles or skill sets

9. Coaching and Mentorship Programs

Coaching and mentorship programs are popular ways to give employees hyper-personal workplace training.

Companies pair less experienced hires with more experienced peers or leadership team members to train and drive
employee motivation. The coaches and mentors offer personal feedback and take an active role in advancing that
employees’ professional growth.

For example, human resources may pair junior managers with director-level managers on their teams. The junior
member can ask questions and collaborate with their coach or mentor in a one-to-one setting, receiving senior-level
guidance and advice from a respected team member experienced handling their work tasks.

Pros:

1:1 support and guidance in a personal and collaborative fashion

Knowledge transfer from experienced employees

Encourages peer-to-peer advocacy, development plans, and long-term employee loyalty

Cons:

Requires mentors and senior leaders to make time for employee advancement

Success is highly dependent on mutual commitment and collaboration

Difficult to measure and scale across larger organizations

10. Cross-Training
Cross-training exposes employees to other team members’ roles and responsibilities.

It is a great way for employees to gain hands-on experience in other areas of the business and grow their skill set.
This offers them a big picture view of how different job functions add value and advance business goals.

This method, combined with other experienced professionals, demonstrates how contributions impact other teams’
goals and needs, creating a more collaborative and empathetic work environment.

It can also safeguard companies from the negative impact of staffing changes or employee churn, so transitions are
smoother and skill sets are distributed across the organization.

Pros:

Spreads skills and knowledge sharing across the company

Enables smoother employee transitions

Nurtures teamwork, empathy, and a better understanding of cross-team dynamics and dependencies

Cons:

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Availability and scheduling conflicts create challenges

Requires employee commitment to cross-train effectively

May be challenging for more specialized skills or high-pressure roles

What are the most effective employee training techniques?

Here’s the thing—there’s no one-size-fits-all training and development method, and that’s a good thing.

Employee learning comes in all shapes and sizes, giving businesses flexibility to choose the training methods that
fit into their corporate culture, budget, and operational structure.

Whichever training styles you choose, there’s no denying it pays off.

LinkedIn reports that companies with a strong learning culture see significantly higher rates of retention, internal
mobility, and promotions to management, compared to businesses underinvesting in this crucial area.

Ultimately, the most effective training methods and techniques for training employees depend on your business,
factoring in:

Types of skills (soft skills, technical certifications, etc.)

Company culture (e.g., in-house vs. remote)

Resources (on-staff learning and development team, veteran employee mentors, or hiring external resources)

Technology infrastructure (to support digital learning, like a dedicated learning management system)

Communication (encourage employee engagement and solicit feedback)

Far from exhaustive, these considerations narrow down the many training styles to advance your employees’ skills
and goals.

We’ve got your diverse training needs covered.

Upskill and engage your team in no time with TalentLMS.
The training platform that users consistently rank #1.

Which factors to consider before choosing a training technique?

Many companies will try a mix of different types of employee training, learning through trial and error the types of
programs that create the most effective and valuable outcomes.

The right employee training method for your company will depend on many factors, like:

Budget

Culture

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Learning management system

Resources

Workload

Learning styles

Learning objectives

Training requirements

Digital maturity

Skill levels

If you are in the process of trying out training methods for employees, don’t recreate the wheel every time! Instead,
repurpose your existing content in different formats, to understand what best engages your employees.

Next, let’s look at ways to ensure the success of your training programs and increase participation.

How to Increase Training Program Participation and Success

There’s nothing more frustrating than rolling out a new education program and receiving lackluster participation.

Developing training takes time, energy, thought leadership, and budget, so it’s important to promote your training
sessions and encourage adoption and participation.

Market your employee training programs with an internal marketing campaign. Share eye-catching flyers, Intranet
messages, and internal emails that highlight the benefits, requirements, and value of the training program.

Clearly state the timeframe for training, how employees participate (self-directed learning, simulation based
training, collaborative learning, etc.), and how progress is measured.

Make sure you communicate the “why” behind the training to your managers and team leaders. Provide talking
points to explain how the training positively impacts individual professional development, job performance, and big-
picture business goals.

If possible, don’t be afraid to incentivize training participation and communicate rewards, successes, and milestones
after the program.

Most important? Gather feedback from team members to understand how valuable they found the training. Use
this information to inform the next training session, or perhaps, try a new format or approach.

Empower Your Teams with Better Training

Effective employee training methods have a direct impact on employee satisfaction and retention. By upskilling your
employees using diverse training methods, you gain a competitive advantage and position your business for long-
term growth.

Training is not just about filling employees’ spare time. It’s about empowering them on the path to greatness
through impactful learning experiences. Therefore, it’s important to leverage the features of a great training
platform to help you create and scale your employee training programs.

Save time, frustration and money with TalentLMS, the most-affordable and user-friendly learning management system on
the market. Try it for free for as long as you want and discover why our customers consistently give us 4.5 stars (out of 5!)
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Try for free!

| Tags: training methods,upskilling

Marialena Kanaki - Content Marketing Manager

Marialena hates talking about herself in the third person. She loves to inspire people with authenticity. And she prioritizes that in
all her content—without the need for smoke and mirrors.

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