Explaining to employees how something is done and then expecting them to automatically catch on is unrealistic. If your employees aren't adapting as well as you had hoped they would, then possibly the fault lies with you, not them. Proper training is important, and it really does make a difference. Employees shouldn't be put on the job without it.
You need to look at employee trainings as an investment in the company?s future because that's really what it is. You're investing time and resources into developing quality employees. Right now there are so many different training methods out there. Everyone seems to have the right answer, but the problem is that different people learn in different ways. What you really need to take advantage of is integrative trainings that combine a variety of methods so that all employees can benefit. At the very least employees need to hear you explain what they need to learn, see what you are talking about and then do what you've just shown them. It's the basic three-step process to training employees, and it's effective.
When explaining to your employees how something works, first explain the process and then explain using real-life, applicable examples. This allows employees to place themselves in the situation and visualize what they should do and how they should do it. Also make sure that you are being very detailed in your explanations. You can't assume that your employees have any prior knowledge and will therefore be able to fill in the gaps on their own. Some of them may, but some of them may not. It's better to assume they know nothing on the subject.
Providing visual support will not only reinforce the material for those who learn well from hearing, but it will also allow visual learners to fully grasp what you're trying to convey. Use resources like slide shows, diagrams, videos, or whatever helps get the point across. If you're trying to teach a physical skill, get up and show your employees how it's done. Just make sure that you're reinforcing your demonstration by actually performing those tasks that way when you're on the job.
Once you've clearly conveyed your main points, allow your employees to practice. Having them do what they saw and heard lets them make a connection between the two and once again reinforce what they learned. Allow your employees to exhaust the practice round if need be. Many people argue that the only way to really learn is to be thrown in to the workplace and learn as you go. There's definitely some truth to that, but your employees still need to understand the basics before they can perform on the job alone. For the time being, allow them to develop their skills, and make sure that you're available to answer questions as your employees transition into working on their own. It's imperative that they have your active support as their work becomes more independent.
This is simply a basic way to integrate a few common teaching/learning methods, so feel free to explore other methods of training as well. Again, people learn differently, so if you're limiting the manner in which you teach your employees, then you're also limiting your employees? potential to succeed.
