Incorporating the following minimum standards into a training program would help to make it more effective: leverage 21st century technology such as whiteboard animation, short videos and/or gamification which helps improve the visuals as well as acting as a storytelling tool; simplify the content so it is direct and only focuses on what employees need to know; have uniform training standards across your firm to ensure consistency in the training programs; and run comprehensive metrics at least weekly so progress can always be tracked.
Our training communications are conducted through e-mail notifications as well as through publications on our Intranet home page. Our messages include pertinent information describing the training, requirements, and due dates as well as direct contact information in the event any questions arise. Communications should also include information on the next planned trainings as well as the anticipated launch dates. This helps employees to be properly informed and helps to set expectations as well.
Employees can spend anywhere from 15 to 20 hours a year on mandatory trainings. This number varies greatly depending on your role in the organization.
Compliance training should be directly related to your firm’s identified risks as well as to internal and external requirements. The best way to achieve these results is by customizing training content so that it is directly pertinent to your firm while helping to achieve the goals you have set forth for your training.
There is a historical quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin, amongst others, which states, “If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter.” It’s easy to create a training that includes the “kitchen sink” and is very lengthy, whereas simplifying training content, and creating targeted training material is much more difficult to do, but in the end is significantly more effective.
Training content should be refreshed at a minimum of every other year to ensure the content does not become stale and employees stay engaged. Leveraging new technologies, such as whiteboard animation and short videos, is a dynamic way to greatly improve training material.
We have created the challenging standard to be 100% complete in all of our trainings. While we have had success in achieving this goal, there are seemingly always the same bad apples who struggle to complete their training in a timely manner.
Our training program received the Brandon Hall Gold Excellence in Learning Award in 2017 for the Best Compliance Training Program. It was rewarding to be recognized for the dedication and hard work that was put forth.
We are continually researching new technologies to help make our trainings more effective and efficient. New innovations such as whiteboard animation and gamification have helped to greatly improve our trainings. We are always on the lookout for the next great technology that we can utilize.
Prior to creating a training, look to identify two or three messages you would like an employee to take away from the training. Then take the time to build a storyboard with shorter and crisper content. Your training will be more effective, and your employees will be appreciative!
We are continuallyresearching new technologiesto help make our trainingsmore effective and efficient
