Let’s accept it: for start-ups, it is a do-or-die situation till they establish themselves in the market. Employees are the cornerstone of a company’s growth. However giant may be the company, without talented employees, its relentless success march would come to a sudden halt. Therefore, training and development are important for evolving businesses. If start-ups voluntarily invest in the workforce’s growth, they can foster an environment of continuous improvement and innovation.
Why is it necessary?
Employee training and development initiatives are more about developing a mindset of growth and adaptability rather than just honing skills. By investing in training and development, start-ups can create a workforce that is resilient in the face of challenges while chasing excellence in everyday work.
What exactly training and development is?
Each employee strives for personal growth at the workplace. Training helps enhance their current job roles and equip them with newer skills. Development is a much broader realm than training. It encompasses the employee’s entire career path. Start-ups need to focus on training and development to train their employees to handle current challenges and prepare them for future roles.
Training and development encompass:
– Self-learning
– Informal learning
– Coaching
– Mentoring
One should remember that training and development demand resources, time and energy at the initial stages, but eventually, it pays off by enhancing the employee’s potential.
How to start?
Initially, start-ups need to focus on six types of training.
Technical Training: The technology landscape is evolving very fast. To stay ahead of the curve, continuous technical training is important for start-ups. This way, employees are updated with the latest skills and knowledge to perform their roles best.
Customer Service Training: A start-up’s approach towards their clients more or less determines their destiny. Start-ups are under immense pressure to win the customer’s loyalty. Therefore, if your employees are points of contact, giving them customer service training is important. They should have the necessary skills to handle queries and address them effectively.
Leadership Development:
The secret behind all surviving start-ups is strong leadership. Leadership programs equip employees with strong communication skills. Such employees perform better in teamwork. Also, in case of disruption in the top management chain, the second line of leaders can shoulder the responsibility equally efficiently.
Safety Training:
It is paramount for start-ups to build a culture of trust to attract a talent pool. Therefore, educating employees about workplace safety protocols and taking the right measures to create a secure environment is essential.
Sales Training:
The sales team is the breadwinner for the entire company. In many cases, start-ups develop products or services that are new to the market. Sales training help the sales team learn effective techniques to boost sales, drive revenue growth and improve customer relationship.
Culture Training:
Unlike corporates, start-ups have a fresh culture. Therefore, it is important to mould it correctly. Start-ups should ensure that their employees embody the company’s values and the work environment is positive and productive.
