Personalization of training - how to create bespoke development programs

Why is personalization important?

It is no discovery that each of us has different needs, career aspirations and learning styles and abilities. Standard training that does not take into account the diversity of our experiences, skills or limitations may not deliver the expected results. Personalizing training programs makes it possible to tailor the content and teaching methods not only to the individual needs of the participants, but also to the business or professional goals of the organization in which they work. A properly tailored training program has a positive impact on increasing employee effectiveness and their involvement in the well-being of the company.

How to create a tailor-made program?

"I recommend starting with identifying competency gaps in the organization, analysing training needs and, finally, defining employees' future career goals." – says Kamila Izdebska, Head of BPP Professional Education.

Once we know the situation and the needs of the employees, let's take the next step and define measurable and realistic training goals for each of them. Here, the role of the team leader or direct supervisor is important, and they should ensure that the employee's development plans coincide with the company's business goals.

"The third stage is the choice of methodology and tools. And this is where the needs of employees and their capabilities, such as time, come into play. – notes Kamila Izdebska – Some will choose traditional face-to-face training, with a tutor, in a group, and others will choose e-learning at home in the evening. Others prefer active workshops, mentoring or coaching. Blended learning is becoming increasingly popular because it flexibly combines different forms of learning."

Step number four is to develop a training program and tailor it to the experience, knowledge and skill level of the participants. Instead of general materials, give participants specific case studies, tasks and projects related to the industry and job characteristics.

Conscious leaders know how important progress monitoring and evaluation are in the training process. By regularly observing the progress of the employee being trained, necessary adjustments can be made and thus the process of acquiring new competencies can be optimized and accelerated.

What are the benefits of a personalized approach for each employee?

Personalizing training means benefits on many levels, including:

• Employees have a sense of responsibility for their own development and this increases their motivation and commitment to improving their competence. Personalized training brings optimal results for the organization, as the skills acquired by the employee are more effectively put into practice.
• Adapting training to an employee's individual development and professional needs translates into much better use of the training budget by the HR or L&D department. The investment in education pays off in the form of increased efficiency, loyalty and employee engagement. Besides, organizations can attract and retain the best talent, which obviously translates into company growth.

We should remember that employee development is a very important and profitable investment for an organization. However, it is worth planning it carefully. Let's make bespoke programs not just a luxury option for the chosen few, but a standard.

Article also published on focusonbusiness.eu/en/.