Training and developing employees can be a major drain on resources, especially for not-for-profit organizations like YMCAs. Despite the obstacles, YMCA employee training is critical, and it’s becoming more and more important to employ modern training techniques in order to minimize the cost of materials, payroll consumption, and wasted resources.

Advances in technology haven’t just altered the way we communicate with each other in our personal lives, they’ve transformed the way managers and supervisors interact with employees and prepare new employee training. Many YMCAs have begun to incorporate technology into their learning and development programs, and have seen those tools cut their training costs, shorten their delivery time, and reduce their carbon footprint. Even better, by modernizing training techniques, YMCAs can implement more consistent and easier-to-update training.

If you’re like countless organizations across the country, it’s probably time to review your current employee training tactics and look for ways to modernize your approach. Below are a few ideas for how your YMCA can update your employee training practices, all while increasing productivity and freeing up some time for your already-overworked trainers and HR staff.

Web conferencing
If you’re still hosting countless sessions of in-house training for new employees, there are a number of options to consider, one of which is web conferencing. When you go this route, trainers can host live meetings, trainings, and presentations via the internet. Web conferencing involves participants calling or logging in to a shared line or network from one or multiple locations, which eliminates travel time and cost. Just like in-person training, this approach provides opportunities for participants to follow along and ask questions throughout the program, though it eliminates the potential for distractions that are common in rooms full of people. Trainers can present information in a number of formats, including PowerPoint and Excel spreadsheets, ensuring that new employees are following along and are on the same page, regardless of their location. Common web-conferencing tools include GoToMeeting, Webex, Join.Me, and Adobe Connect.
Online training
A step beyond web conferencing is online training, which eliminates the need for instructors to be present during training sessions. Existing content and materials can be converted to an online-training platform, allowing on-demand access to training as the need arises (which could be hourly during busy hiring seasons like just prior to the start of summer camp). Online training allows YMCA employees to become familiar with YMCA policies and procedures immediately upon hire, even before they report to their first day of work. Online content is easy to update, ensuring that new YMCA employees always receive the most up-to-date training. Courses can even be personalized for specific employee learning, for instance all new lifeguards can be automatically enrolled in aquatic safety courses in addition to the standard YMCA Employee Safety training and YMCA Youth Protection Series. Online training isn’t just convenient for new employees, it’s also proven to cut costs, increase effectiveness and productivity, and preserve resources like ink and paper. This solution, like web conferencing, is especially helpful if one person is responsible for disseminating training materials to employees at various YMCA locations. Online learning makes it possible for YMCA employees to train at their own pace, from anywhere at any time, as long as they have a web-enabled computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.
Collaborative document preparation/collaboration environment/collaborative workspace
Using this method, YMCA trainers and new employees can use an online word processor—a virtual environment—where multiple people work on projects and share information. This type of interactive learning experience provides a shared workspace for uploading and sharing files. A great next step after initial new employee orientation, this process would allow employees within one YMCA, or at multiple YMCAs, to create a workspace in which to share ideas, experiences, and resources. Documents and spreadsheets in collaborative projects can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Examples of free online word processors include Google Docs and Zoho Writer.
If your YMCA employee training process is in need of an overhaul, you’re not alone. But you won’t want to wait too long before realizing the advantages of a present-day approach to employee training. Remember, modern training programs are successful because they offer benefits to employees receiving training and your YMCA as a whole.

3 Ways to Modernize YMCA Employee Training