Good management is vital to the success of any enterprise to ensure the successful running of the economy. However, management training is often neglected, especially in a tough economic climate and new approaches to training offering business owners cost-effective, creative and customisable training solutions are necessary.

The training of soft skills, hard skills, goal setting, problem solving and conflict resolution are usually taught as part of a management programme, in a classroom setting or workplace. This can be limited in terms of time consumption, cost of trainers, classroom space and methodology. 

Due to this training being cost and time-intensive, many businesses rule it out without exploring options, however there are a number of alternatives to traditional classroom training and on-the-job training. One of these is e-learning, which is a flexible learning method that cuts out the logistical costs of transporting books, trainers and students to classrooms.

Users can access it anywhere, any time, on almost any device. E-learning is immersive and engaging and places students in virtual workplace situations without the potential for embarrassment in a live classroom roleplaying situation. Students are also able to meet up with other trainees and a teacher in virtual classrooms to share thoughts after hours so there is no loss in productivity.

Group mentorship is an underappreciated but effective way to train many managers at once. It offers the benefit of contact with a leader within an organisation who provides virtual on-the-job training by meeting with management trainees regularly via email and online to discuss issues that arise in day-to-day work. Mentees are given the benefit of learning from the mentor as well as through other mentees’ experience.

Managers need to be equipped with skills to guide their organisations effectively and their education needs to be constant, keeping abreast of industry trends and developments to ensure they make the right decisions. Training is vital to the success of any organisation and has a trickle-down effect on business. It isn’t just an investment in an individual, but in an entire organisation, as well as the economy.

Kirsty Chadwick is the founder of e-learning design and development company The Training Room Online.