Performance Support Training: What and Why Do You Need It?

By The Team at Inkling on November 10th, 2022

Training and Performance Support Blog image

When employees are faced with an unfamiliar task, what do they usually do? Maybe they Google the answer, flip through training manuals or ask a manager. All of this can delay the task at hand and put your customer’s experience at risk, especially if these employees are frontline employees. But, if these same employees can quickly pull up a checklist or other training content on their phone, they’re back on the job in no time. That’s performance support training in a nutshell.

Both employee training and performance support training serve important purposes in your employees’ overall learning journey. If you can strike the right balance between the two, you’ll ensure that they’re not wasting time in virtual classes or relying too heavily on performance support to fill the training gaps.

Performance Based Training

Performance-based training emphasizes targeted outcomes, setting expectations, providing feedback, introducing tools, rewarding skill development, and teaching new skills and knowledge. It aligns learning with practical performance goals, enabling individuals to enhance their capabilities and achieve measurable results in their respective roles.

When to Use Training Performance Support

Imagine you’re at work, facing a tricky problem that you haven’t dealt with before. You need help, and you need it now. That’s where training performance support tools swoop in to save the day!

Think of these tools as your trusty sidekicks for handling complex or super-important stuff that could slow you down if you had to stop and figure it out on your own. They’re like cheat sheets packed with all the details you might not have memorized or info that keeps changing, like product specs.

But when it’s time for some serious skill-building or getting up to speed on company policies, that’s when formal training steps in. You know, like when you’re learning leadership skills or making sure you’re up-to-date on important compliance stuff, such as sexual harassment policies.

The big difference between the two? It’s all about timing. With performance support, you’re grabbing info on the fly to keep the workflow going smoothly—no interruptions. Formal training, though, comes before you dive into the nitty-gritty of your job tasks.

So, by giving employees access to these handy performance support tools, companies are saying, “Hey, we’ve got your back! You can tackle tough tasks with confidence, and we’ll make sure you’re always in the loop.” It’s all about boosting productivity and making sure everyone’s rocking it in their roles!

What Training and Performance Support Technologies to Use

When determining which training and performance support technologies to utilize, it’s crucial to align each component with its intended purpose. Let’s break down the considerations:

Corporate Training

When it comes to corporate training, whether conducted in-person or virtually, the go-to tool often involves slide presentations. These slides are typically viewed on laptops and serve to complement instructors’ lectures rather than serve as standalone content. It’s essential to recognize that phones are not typically ideal for in-depth reading of slides; they’re better suited for quick interactions. If you’re aiming to make corporate learning more mobile-friendly, consider repackaging your slides to suit the mobile format better.

Training Performance Support

Accessibility is key. Since employees need to access support wherever they are, it’s imperative that the content is available on any mobile device. However, merely making the content “mobile-accessible” isn’t enough; it must be truly optimized for mobile use. Content that requires excessive pinching and zooming on a small screen can lead to frustration. Instead, focus on creating content that is bite-sized, easily searchable, and mirrors the user-friendly qualities of the web.

Both play integral roles in a comprehensive learning and development program. However, it’s essential to consider how each should be utilized and with what technologies. By leveraging today’s advancements in technology, such as mobile learning capabilities, companies can empower their employees with continuous learning experiences, improve retention, and provide convenient, on-the-go access to essential resources.

At Inkling, our mobile learning capabilities are designed to facilitate continuous learning experiences, enhance retention rates, and offer convenient, on-the-go access to learning resources. With our platform, employees can seamlessly access training materials anytime, anywhere, empowering them to become more confident and effective in their roles within your company.

How Performance Support Training Differs from Traditional Methods

Performance support training stands out from traditional training methods by prioritizing on-the-job learning and real-time application. Unlike traditional training, which often involves lengthy classroom sessions or e-learning modules, Performance Support Training provides employees with immediate access to the information and resources they need to perform their tasks effectively. This approach emphasizes practical, hands-on learning experiences, enabling employees to apply new knowledge directly to their work tasks as they encounter them.

Benefits of Implementing

a. Increased Productivity and Efficiency among Employees

Training performance support empowers employees to access information and guidance precisely when they need it, eliminating the need to wait for scheduled training sessions or seek assistance from colleagues. This instant support streamlines workflows boosts productivity, and enhances overall efficiency in the workplace.

b. Reduced Time and Cost Associated with Traditional Training Methods

By offering just-in-time support and eliminating the need for lengthy training sessions, training performance support helps organizations save both time and money. Companies can minimize the expenses associated with organizing and conducting traditional training programs while still ensuring that employees have access to the resources they need to succeed.

c. Improved Knowledge Retention through Continuous Reinforcement

Continuous reinforcement fosters continuous learning and reinforcement by providing employees with ongoing access to resources and tools tailored to their specific needs. This approach helps reinforce learning over time, leading to improved knowledge retention and greater mastery of essential skills.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

a. It’s Not Just Job Aids or Manuals, It Encompasses a Variety of Tools and Resources

Contrary to common misconceptions, training performance support goes beyond simple job aids or manuals. It encompasses a diverse range of tools and resources, including interactive guides, mobile apps, online tutorials, and more, all designed to support employees in their day-to-day tasks.

b. It’s Not a Replacement for Formal Training, but Rather a Supplement to Enhance Performance

While Performance Support Training provides valuable on-the-job support, it is not intended to replace formal training programs entirely. Instead, it serves as a supplement to traditional training methods, enhancing employee performance by providing timely assistance and resources as needed.

By understanding the distinct advantages of Performance Support Training and dispelling common misconceptions, organizations can harness its full potential to drive productivity, efficiency, and knowledge retention among employees.

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About the Author

The Team at Inkling

We redefine employee training for front-line employees, offering instant access to vital training and resources, seamlessly merging learning with operational efficiency. With easy content authoring, learner-centric UX, structured learning paths, and insightful analytics, activate your organization’s crucial knowledge effortlessly.

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