5 things to identify the optimal length of a training course April 27, 2018

5 things to identify the optimal length of a training course

Whether you run training internally at your organisation or you outsource it to a specialist training company, you must consider the length of the training – how long is long enough to obtain the best results?

We have put together 5 things to consider when determining the optimal length of a training course - this will allow you to create training courses that are just long enough to achieve the desired learning objectives, but still short enough to avoid learner boredom and frustration.

Less is more. While it might seem that there is lots of information to cover, cutting it down (or breaking it into several smaller sessions) can help ensure your employees are actually learning. Since training takes time and money, you want to ensure your employees are getting as much out of it as possible, so go for quality over quantity.

Record the time that you will allocate for each concept or section on your training, and make sure that you've allowed plenty of time to focus on the core concepts – if you don't have enough time, you'll need to run additional sessions, or narrow your learning objectives and reduce the number of topics that you plan to cover.

Regardless of the length you choose, training should never be a “one-and-done” experience. Often companies allocate time for annual training on a topic just to satisfy a compliance requirement. You can say annual training is like cello tape - It sort of fixes anything, but that thing is still broken; employees reverting to their original behavior.

Finding the optimal length for your training invigorates your staff. If your training course is done right, it motivates and excites your team. By not allowing your course to be too long, your employees are more likely to find purpose and enjoyment, which can lead to an invigorated perspective on their job responsibilities.

When it comes to training, learners can and will sit through lengthy training with high production values or high interest levels. Your training presentation should be polished, consist of lots of visuals, interactive elements, and have an appealing tone and style.

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