Training and Development Goals and Objectives
The training and development department has a simple target. It has to ensure that all employees know the basics required to conduct the job efficiently and smoothly. Most training and development departments do not focus on the leadership development programs or talent development because the specialized small unit takes care of them. The T&D department is focused on the mass population in the organization.
The training unit is responsible for the basic know-how of the business that makes the business agile and profitable. The goals for the training and development department follow changes in the business and HR Strategy, usually.
The business strategy defines the requirement of the organization to be successful in the future. It does not define just products and services; it describes sales channels and the way how the company communicates with clients and customers. It does determine how the employee should behave and what skills and competencies are essential.
The clear link between the business strategy and training needs and requirements makes planning of T&D goals and objectives easier. All employees can see an explicit link, and they can identify the role of individual courses in the general vision of the company. The department usually runs three kinds of training courses, and the goals and objectives should follow the structure:
- hard skills;
- sales skills;
- soft skills.
The successful and modern organization always has a clear focus on hard skills of employees. It takes care of the knowledge of basic product and process management skills. Each employee has to be able to draw a process and measure key KPIs. Everyone has to understand to basic performance reports, and each employee has to find potential gaps. The Training and Development department has to take over the clear ownership of all hard skills courses in the organization. It has to design a clear methodology and certificate all internal trainers. This is a clear objective for the unit.
The organization without sales volumes is dead. The success of the company is always built on the success of the sales team. It is the only way how to bring healthy cash into the business. Each successful organization invests in the development of the unique sales skills training. It does not buy the generic content from the market.
It designs the program that turns each employee into a real sales person and advocate of the company. It is a goal for the training department to develop such an extremely competitive course.
Last driver of targets and objectives for the training department are the competitive and entertaining soft skills courses. The organization needs employees who communicate, share ideas and build the diverse team. Most people have skills to become friends, and they are indeed social animals.
However, the soft skills training can improve their skills and competencies. Most organizations offer an essential set of training, but they do not refresh it often. The regular update of the training menu is always a good target for the department.
