Employees have a wide range of skill sets, and the ability to use technology effectively isn’t always one of them.
Business owners and managers frequently ask about the best ways to train employees on technology. Most of the time, they’re asking for basic Microsoft Office training.
The good news is, there are a ton of free and low-cost training resources available.
Free Microsoft Office Training
The best free resource for basic Microsoft Office training is through Microsoft itself at Office.com/training.
Screenshot from Office.com/Training
Microsoft has put together an incredible library of videos and training plans. Everything from Quick Start guides to full interactive training plans on the most commonly used Office products – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many more. The courses are specifically for Office 365 users, but the training applies to non-Office 365 customers too. They also have training available for older versions of Office.
These free tools do a great job of covering the basics.
Low-Cost Microsoft Office Training
For more advanced training, Lynda.com or LinkedIn.com/Learning is a great next step. Lynda.com is powered by LinkedIn Learning, so some of the courses overlap, but they still operate independently for the time being.
These courses go into more detail and the training plan can be personalized based each employee’s role. For example, accounting professionals may need to learn the ins-and-outs of Excel, while the training for sales professionals may focus more on proficiency in Outlook. This gives context around what they’re learning, real-world applications, and sets them up for success in their role.
Currently, subscriptions for Lynda.com are $19.99 or $29.99 per user per month, depending on the plan you choose. LinkedIn Learning is $29.99 per user per month. Training for teams can also be set up.
Hands-On Technology Training Options
Some employees are better suited for immersive, in-person training. Luckily, there are many computer training centers that do one or two-day courses on a wide range of technology topics. These courses give hands-on learners the opportunity to practice their skills with an instructor available to help.
A popular training company is New Horizons Computer Learning Centers. They have local facilities throughout Southern California, as well as others worldwide. Courses run a few hundred dollars, but they’re worth it if that’s the most effective way to train your team.
Training goes a long way to making sure your employees are successful. A small investment in technology training can pay back immensely in productivity, output, and overall job satisfaction.
