Is training in the workplace worth it?

Posted by Andrew on November 7, 2014

Every day is the same thing: Get to the office, check email, return messages, lunch, more email — and so on. If you're feeling stagnant in your career, it might be time to change things up. And one of the easiest ways to do so is by becoming a trainer. Thanks to Tim Cannon at Mashable for this great article.

An Evolllution study found 96% of employers believe ongoing education improves job performance 96% of employers believe ongoing education improves job performance. Companies notice the impact that training has on workplace culture and employee retention. Play your part by stepping into a training role, and sharing the knowledge you have with others.

Becoming a trainer is a great way to refresh your role within a company, and helping others learn the ropes can give you a greater sense of significance.

1. Develop and refine your skills

One of the best ways to develop your own skills is by helping others: You've been in their shoes, and teaching a trainee can give you a much-needed refresh. Given the experience you have now, it's helpful to revisit the beginning stages of your job with wiser eyes.

Training someone else can help you understand how the puzzle fits together, and apply that knowledge to your current role. You might even become a better trainer by sharing the things you wish you had known at the beginning with your trainee.

2. Become a better communicator

Whether you realize it or not, training comes with the benefit of developing interpersonal skills that can be helpful in all aspects of your career. Trainees think, learn and communicate differently. Learning how to adapt to varied learning styles will help you develop conflict-resolution skills, and become more relatable Learning how to adapt to varied learning styles will help you develop conflict-resolution skills, and become more relatable. These skills are applicable in any career — whether you are communicating with the public, or internally with your co-workers.

3. Feel more engaged in your career

Engagement plays a vital role in personal fulfillment in the workplace. A recent Chronicle study discovered the numerous benefits of serving as a mentor: For one, training and mentorship creates psycho-social support, which gives an increased sense of competence. Mentorship was also found to improve an employee's sense of identity and effectiveness, due to taking on the role of counselor and role model.

These elements of psycho-social support are fulfilling, helping the mentor realize his or her personal significance. When you realize the significant role in your workplace, you will feel more engaged and an increased sense of belonging.

4. Get promoted faster

The Evolllution study also found a correlation between ongoing education and advancement. 78% of employers said ongoing education positively impacts promotion and advancement 78% of employers said ongoing education positively impacts promotion and advancement.

Among the many benefits of training, teaching others will increase your value to an organization. Because you are the key to helping new employees acclimate, the company can't afford to lose you. Plus, you will become a master after repetitively training others on the ins and outs of job tasks. You'll also slowly acquire the skills needed to manage others. Then, the next time a management position opens, there's a higher chance that you'll be top-of-mind for a promotion.

Promoting employees internally also costs less than hiring from the outside: The Evolllution study shows employers found 62% of internally promoted executives are still with a company four years later, while 64% of those hired externally fail within that same time frame.

5. Earn more

The Evolllution study found 87% of employers say additional education positively impacts pay raises. It seems fitting that employees with more knowledge and better ability to help the company grow are paid more: Employee turnover is expensive, and training programs improve employee retention by helping employees engage, learn and grow.

Last year, a Deloitte study found U.S. spending on training increased 12% — the highest increase seen in eight years. The study projected similar growth rates for the following year, forecasting a greater need for training within organizations. As companies spend more on training, trainers have an opportunity to reap the financial benefits.

We all know becoming a trainer leads to increased experience, but how does that affect your paycheck exactly? Our recent salary survey within the health IT field reports that those with two years of experience or less make $70,158.65, but those with more than 20 years of experience make an average of $145,133.33.

Of course, every industry varies when it comes to opportunities for advancement and pay rate. Regardless, the benefits of training on your career are virtually infinite. From personal satisfaction to the number of zeros on your paycheck, becoming a trainer is a great way to refresh what might feel like a mundane role. Not only will you feel better about what you do by helping others, but you will also have more to include on your resume — both of which will come in handy for future career changes.