Everyone on this planet seeks to find the purpose of their life. They try to figure out whether what they do matters to people around them. This reminds us of an old fable of three Masons. – Help Employees
Once three Masons were asked what they were doing. The first Mason replied that he was laying down the bricks as he was commanded to do so; the second Mason replied that he was building a big wall; the third Mason replied that he was building a church.
This simple story gives us a powerful message of having a purpose in life. The first two Masons were simply working, while the third mason was clear about what and why he was doing.
Don’t you think your employees want someone who can help them find a purpose in training?
Every employee in your organization wants to know two things-
- Do they matter?
- Does their work matter?
When employees know that they and their work matter to the organization, they’ll work hard and do their best to contribute to the organization.
Before we begin to understand how you can help your employees find purpose in their training, let us first understand what purpose means and what an employee’s purpose is in your organization.
What does purpose mean?
Purpose simply means why something exists, is done, is used, or is made. It defines the intentions of people as to why they do something.
What is employee purpose?
The employee’s purpose is to impart the best and most useful skills and knowledge that can help him in his professional development.
How to help employees find the purpose in their training?
1.Tell them the purpose of your organization
Every organization is established to fulfill some purpose. When you’ve got a huge workforce behind you, tell them the purpose of your organization. When employees know why the organization was established, what purpose it serves, and how the other employees are living that purpose, they’ll be more motivated to work with you.
2.Tell them why training is important
Few things are meaningless until we know the reason and importance of their existence. You need to convey to the employees why it is important to get trained and how training can help them in the future. By telling the importance, employees will see training as more relevant and crucial.
Some employees are able to unearth their purpose, while others find it difficult to know why they are even doing something. In that case, you can help employees in finding purpose in their training.
If you’ve got an extended enterprise, and have a large, extended, and diverse workforce to train, then you can use a learning management system or an LMS for extended enterprise management.
3.Help them set goals that align with the business purpose
Employees will love it if you’ll help them in shaping their goals and career plans. This way they’ll feel more than an employee and have a sense of purpose and responsibility.
For instance, you can tell your sales team how an eLearning course on “Principles of professional selling” can help them build excellent communication skills and meet the company’s revenue targets. When employees see the purpose behind the course and how they can contribute toward the overall goal of the company, they’ll be more inclined to get trained.
4.Play with their strengths
Every employee has got something unique in him. But sometimes employees themselves fail to recognize it, and as an eLearning professional you should never miss out on these aspects.
Assess your employees and find out what they’ve got and how you can help them build those strengths. Assign them exclusively those eLearning projects or assignments that they enjoy doing.
5.Keep evaluating their performance frequently
Conducting frequent assessments can also help employees find purpose in training. When they see other employees performing well, getting acknowledged and rewarded, they begin to take their training seriously.
By measuring their performance, goals achieved, and monitoring their progress, you help them understand their position in the organization.
6.Provide them with constructive feedback
Feedback motivates employees, opens a line of communication, fosters professional growth and development, and, most importantly, increases employee engagement.
It’s your job to give constructive feedback to your employees. But don’t assume that everyone wants positive feedback. While new hires prefer positive feedback, senior employees expect negative or honest feedback that can help them step up their game.
7.Recognize and appreciate their efforts-
Employees need recognition and appreciation to understand the purpose of what they do. By appreciating their work, you make them feel more contented. They figure out the purpose of the training and hence are likely to stick around you.
Conclusion-
By helping employees find the purpose of their training, you show them a clear path to success. When employees see their training has some meaning, they’ll be more enthusiastic about learning.
