What Is an Employee Training Proposal?

An employee training proposal is a proposal outlining various plans and strategies that are aimed towards the improvement or development of an employee’s skills and knowledge in a particular field. 

According to an online article by Yahoo! Small Business, statistics show that about $5 billion is spent on sales training and improvement in the United States alone. Sales training is deemed to be an essential factor in determining a company’s success. Therefore, it is no surprise that a strong and well-trained sales team or department is key to boosting profit figures. 

Kinds of Employee Training

There are different types of skills needed for an employee to thrive in the workplace. To achieve this, conducting regular training and holding refresher courses are essential. The examples below are just some skills that an employee can learn to develop with time, determination and the proper training. 

Problem Solving: Problem solving is a fundamental skill that employees should try to cultivate. Decision making and problem solving often go hand-in-hand because solutions demand choices and decisiveness. Learning how to think on your feet and solve problems can help you not just survive workplace demands, but allow you to thrive and maximize your potential. Although it is important to note that, obviously, not all problems can be solved at the employee’s level. Which is why some situations call for an issue or problem to be escalated and brought up to higher authorities. Leadership: Leadership ability can differ for everyone; and not all people answer the call to leadership. While it is true some are born leaders, truly inspiring leadership is often molded and learned. Training employees with leadership potential can be a worthwhile and rewarding journey. A company or organization can reap the benefits of having new leaders take up the mantle each time. Leadership training can involve a series of preparations including mentoring and on-the-job tasks. Conflict Management: One underrated skill in the work environment is conflict management. Arguments, disagreements, and conflict are often unavoidable in the workplace. And if you have the ability to remain calm, fair, and level-headed amid a conflict, you can better manage the situation. Being able to see all sides of a story while remaining impartial and fair is an admirable characteristic in a person. Communication: One of the key skills any person ought to have, not just employees, is good communication skills. This is not only limited to verbal or oral communication but encompasses reading comprehension, writing ability, and even listening skills. Communication is so important that many companies often hold effective business writing workshops for their employees.

Tips for Training Employees

Being in the field of training and development can be a challenging job. In most companies, the Human Resources Department is tasked to oversee the professional development plan and growth of the employees. In order to maximize training given, it would be good for facilitators and mediators to keep in mind the following tips:

Look for Strengths: Society today is all too focused on flaws and problems. And it can be hypercritical about a lot of things too. For an individual, this can do nothing to help their self-esteem and motivation. Instead of highlighting an employee’s weakness, learn to play on their strengths. This sample strategy could prove useful and advantageous for work productivity and even workplace morale. When people are aware of their strengths, this gives them the confidence and motivation to face challenges. Practice Consistency: Being consistent is key. Employees do not just improve overnight. For some, it takes a lot of time and patience to really see growth and improvement. So instead of just having training once in a blue moon, it would be ideal to conduct regular training or even refresher courses to prevent workers from becoming stagnant and indifferent in the workplace. Consistency is needed not only to fulfill short-term duties and tasks, but to contribute to professional and personal growth in the long-run. Be an Active Listener: For trainers and facilitators, it is essential that the learning space is two-way and not just one-sided. This means that although you are in the position to teach and impart knowledge as a trainer, you also have the opportunity to learn from the participants or employees. It is important to foster an environment of trust and openness. Employee training is not just for the benefit of the worker, but it can also be a good chance for the trainer to learn and grow as well. Make It Interactive: Like any presentation, you want it to be engaging. As much as possible, you want to avoid putting your audience or participants to sleep. Try incorporating more interactive methods of imparting knowledge. Aside from just the traditional lecturing, you can include an open forum or a fun game to encourage participation from the audience. The more ideas and voices are included in the discussion, the more enriching and interesting the training will be.

How to Create an Employee Training Proposal

If you are short on time and looking for a more convenient option, using an existing template is the best option. Pick an employee training template above and simply customize it as needed. Do not forget to keep in mind the following steps as well: 

Step 1: Identify the Objective

Start your employee training proposal by first establishing the learning objectives. This can be a couple of straightforward bullet points. It is best to keep it specific but brief. State your aim for wanting to conduct an employee training program. Is it to upgrade your employees’ skills? Or is it to improve the communication and leadership capabilities of your workforce?  

Step 2: Establish Length of Training

How long is the training program estimated to last? Some companies hold quarterly and week-long seminars; others last only 2-3 days. You need to establish a clear start and end date so that employee work schedules can be adjusted accordingly. 

Step 3: Outline the Agenda and Program 

The training agenda will depend on the goal and mission of the program. As much as possible, create a detailed sample itinerary with specific times and dates. For example, if the training program is dedicated to new hires, outline the topics per training day. And always include the location, date, and time.   

Step 4: Propose a Budget

A proposal should always cover the financial aspect of things as well. Once you have laid out the plans and strategies for the training, propose the estimated training budget in a clear yet convincing way. Include a detailed breakdown of costs or expenses. This could include meals or snacks for the participants, honorarium fee for the speaker or trainer, and rent cost for the training venue.     

FAQs

What should be in a training proposal?

A training proposal should consist of learning objectives, a schedule or detailed itinerary of the training, brief descriptions of the subjects to be covered, and an estimated budget. An executive summary, brief introduction, or a general overview could be included as an introduction as well.

How do you write a training plan?

Prepare your objectives, training materials or resources, and plan out your program agenda. Make sure you know your audience so you can adequately prepare. The format and content of your proposal would greatly depend on your learning objectives. If you do not want to start from zero, you can use a ready-made template to save time and resources.

How do I create a training plan for a new employee?

To create a training proposal for a new employee, you need to assess the background and ability of the employee. Introduce the company culture and rules. And in the process, you can modify the training according to the function and tasks of the new hire.

What are the types of employee training?

According to an article published by Edgepoint Learning, there are various types of employee training. Some of these are lectures, instructor-led training, e-learning, simulation employee training, hands-on training, coaching or mentoring, focused group discussions, role-playing, management-specific activities, and case studies or other required reading.

Whether you are a new employee or a tenured one, training is still important to ensure that skills remain sharp and knowledge remains relevant. It is every employer’s responsibility to promote the active learning and professional growth of their employees. Create your very own employee training proposal by downloading any of the sample templates above!