“I’ve now been part of the day-to-day running of Jatkokoulutus.com for just over a year. During this time, I have seen at close quarters how very different companies develop, grow and seek direction – sometimes in a controlled manner, sometimes out of necessity. Growth has been achieved impressively, but based on my experience, one thing has clearly stood out above the rest.“
Induction training has become our largest and most popular programme.
It wasn’t a given from the start. We provide induction training for the transport, manufacturing, construction and retail sectors, and these industries differ considerably from one another. Yet there is one surprisingly consistent theme running through them all: companies have a huge amount of untapped potential because people haven’t been told clearly enough what is actually expected of them.
It is not a question of a lack of skills. It is a question of a lack of clarity regarding direction and expectations.
In many companies, the basics – particularly induction training on health and safety, legislation and responsibilities, as well as the associated documentation – are inadequate or completely lacking. This is not merely an administrative or procedural issue. It is a genuine business and risk issue.
In Finland, there are numerous examples of accidents where a lack of induction training, or poorly documented induction training, has led to serious consequences and heavy fines. In the construction, industrial, earthmoving and transport sectors in particular, the burden of liability has been heavy, and it has subsequently been found that matters had not been recorded, trained on or verifiably reviewed.
Often, these situations could have been prevented through simple but systematic induction procedures.
When we’ve really got down to delivering proper induction training, the feedback from customers has been exceptionally candid and positive. Many have told us, word for word: “You’ve solved our problem.”
And it hasn’t just been about documentation or meeting legal requirements. Real change comes from things becoming clearer. The company’s working practices, responsibilities, expectations and ground rules become transparent and shared.
All too often, induction training is seen as a necessary evil. A legal formality to be ticked off the list, carried out quickly and, ideally, with as little effort as possible. In reality, a well-structured induction programme is one of the most effective tools for leadership and cultural development.
“The main purpose of induction is not simply to explain the rules. Its main purpose is to answer the following questions for the employee:
1. How do we actually work?
2. How do we operate on a day-to-day basis, even when things don’t go to plan?
3. What kind of team player do we want to be?
4. What do I need to do in my role to ensure we meet our shared goals?
And perhaps most importantly: how are work, well-being and performance interlinked in this particular company?
To be honest, it’s surprising how many companies never openly tell their employees what the company actually does. What its main market is. What business model is used to make money. What kind of results are being targeted and why. How much revenue needs to be generated for the business to be profitable and for jobs to be safeguarded.
Nevertheless, we expect the targets to be met.
Induction is often the first – and sometimes the only – opportunity to go through these matters clearly, comprehensibly and honestly. When people understand the bigger picture, it is much easier for them to make the right decisions in their day-to-day work, take responsibility and commit to shared goals.
To wrap things up, I’d like to pose a question to everyone in a management or supervisory role:
Are you absolutely certain that everyone in your company understands what you do – and what they need to do in their own roles to ensure that the objectives are met?
Often, the answer to this question only becomes clear once the induction process is actually being properly developed. And that is when many companies realise that it is not just about induction – but about streamlining the entire operation.