There are many things that go into running a successful small business, but one of the most often overlooked is professional teaching and learning.
In many cases, business owners will simply figure that employees are skilled enough to do their specific jobs and that’s all that matters. The problem with this approach is that, while it can allow a business to proceed, it doesn’t push a business to succeed.
In other words, a business can become stagnant, never reaching its full potential, when it doesn’t push employees to learn new skills or enhance existing skills.
How to Go About Teaching and Learning in the Workplace
There are a variety of ways to teach and learn in the workplace, and it’s a good idea to vary training methods in order to bring out the best in all employees. Not everyone teaches in the same and not everyone learns in the same way.
Some people learning by seeing a skill demonstrated while others need to actively engage in the skill to understand it. Still others learn by oral instruction or by reading about a skill.
There are also a number of ways to present information, including through in-person seminars, interactive digital applications, webinars, manuals, and more, so don’t limit your teaching materials.
Your Human Resources Department Can Make a Difference
In the article, “Teaching, Learning and Skill Development: Impact on Business Performance,” it’s noted that having a strong relationship between your human resources department and other business units can make a difference in how effective professional learning turns out.
By forming this close alliance, training and skill development sessions are often more structured, leading to a better absorption rate by trainees.
Working closely with the human resources department also helps businesses to include key information regarding company policy with regards to learning and implementing new skills.
Learning Now and Into the Future
It’s also important to point out that professional teaching and learning should be a continual process instead of a one-time deal.
Many companies provide training and skill development sessions once or twice a year, but this won’t be nearly as effective as holding such sessions monthly or even weekly.
There is always something that you and your employees can teach and learn about, and you could even encourage employees to provide ideas or even lead teaching sessions.
This not only helps to develop your business, but it can be a great teambuilding tool.
About the Author: Andrew Rusnak is an author who writes on topics that include business development and professional learning.