After evaluating and selecting a new training company, you’re ready to move from decision-making to action. You’ve just committed to working with a new corporate training vendor, and you’re equal parts excited about the possibilities and anxious about what you’ve gotten yourself into. Did you know this paradox of emotions is a common experience during the kickoff phase, but if you can lean into the positive, you can achieve even better results – and this guide will help you do just that!
Providing a practical checklist for ensuring seamless onboarding and productive collaborations, by the end you’ll be more equipped to get your new partnership off on the right foot. Whether you’re a project manager, subject matter expert, HR or learning team leader, or otherwise found yourself at the helm of managing employee training and development vendor partnerships, these steps will help you achieve smooth and productive collaborations.
Use the following email template to persuade key stakeholders by highlighting the prospective vendor’s strengths, effectiveness, and ability to meet your L&D needs!
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Step 1: Preparing for Successful Vendor Partnerships
Conduct a Training Needs Assessment to Identify Learning Goals
Take a step back to determine what your team truly needs to learn or improve. Conduct a thorough learning analysis including a training needs assessment, learning needs analysis, job-task analysis and/or audience analysis to pinpoint critical areas where training can drive performance improvement. Engage in collaborative discussions with stakeholders to gather diverse insights and perspectives on training priorities. Keep the focus on practical skills and knowledge that will directly impact your team’s performance and success.
Stakeholder Discussions: Aligning Expectations and Objectives
Bring everyone to the table – from team leaders to frontline employees – to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Facilitate inclusive discussions to ensure alignment of training goals with organizational objectives. Discuss not just what training is needed, but why it’s important and how it aligns with broader organizational goals. Encourage open dialogue to surface any concerns or expectations upfront, ensuring clarity from the start. Aim for consensus on training objectives and outcomes, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment among stakeholders.
Project Kickoff Meeting: Establishing Collaboration Protocols
Extend a warm welcome to vendor partners, ensuring both sides understand how they’ll collaborate effectively from the start. Schedule informal meet-and-greets to break the ice and get to know the faces behind the emails. Share insights into your team’s culture, values, and ways of working to help your vendor partners integrate seamlessly. Invest time in understanding each other’s strengths, preferences, and operational styles to foster a strong partnership. Include a template for a ‘key contacts’ resource to streamline communication and ensure everyone knows their counterparts or borrow ours!
Free Project Kick-Off Template
Download our customizable presentation template to set expectations, establish trust, and ensure your next project is a stress-free success!
Step 2: Onboarding Your Training Vendor
To ensure a smooth and successful onboarding experience for your new training vendor or specific consultants who will work with your team, we’ve crafted a comprehensive checklist designed to set clear expectations and foster effective collaboration. We suggest sharing this checklist with your internal team to establish a strong foundation for success!
Here’s a taste of what’s included:
- Setting up success with access and equipment: Provide necessary system access and equipment to facilitate effective collaboration from day one.
- Facilitating seamless collaboration with access to tools: Align on content creation tools to simplify maintenance and ensure your preferred formats are met. Add new partners to your communication and project management.
- Maintain consistency with brand assets, standards, and templates: Share brand standards, design templates, and style preferences to ensure all training materials align with your organization’s identity.
- Clarify expectations with processes and preferences: Communicate your organizational culture, preferred communication methods, and working hours. Define clear processes for project milestones, review, and approval to ensure deliverables meet expectations. Provide examples of completed deliverables as a reference.
Download our free checklist now to streamline your onboarding process and set your team up for collaborative success!
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Consultant Onboarding Checklist
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Step 3: Leverage Training Vendor Expertise
Capitalize on your instructional design partners’ specialized knowledge to optimize learning outcomes. Invite them to share insights and recommendations based on industry best practices. Collaborate on innovative solutions that align with your team’s needs and goals and explore novel approaches to training delivery and engagement.
Elevate learning initiatives by tailoring training strategies with vendor partners. Incorporate interactive elements, real-world examples, and practical exercises to keep learners engaged. Evaluate training effectiveness based on measurable impact on job performance and organizational goals.
Collaborate with vendors to utilize cutting-edge learning and development platforms and multimedia resources, like generative AI. Ensure training content is accessible and flexible to accommodate diverse learning preferences. Embrace emerging technologies to enhance training effectiveness.
Step 4: Conduct Regular Check-Ins and Maintain Momentum
Keep the lines of communication open with regular check-ins to track progress and address any roadblocks. Establish a cadence of regular check-ins to track project progress and address any emerging issues. Schedule periodic review meetings to share updates and collaboratively troubleshoot challenges. Proactively identify and resolve any issues or concerns to maintain project momentum and stakeholder satisfaction. Recognize and celebrate project milestones to foster team morale and motivation.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Adjusting Plans
Maintain flexibility to adapt training plans based on ongoing feedback and changing business requirements. Solicit feedback from stakeholders and vendor partners to identify areas for improvement and course correction. Embrace a responsive approach to accommodate shifting priorities, emerging trends, and unforeseen challenges. Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement viewing setbacks as opportunities for learning and refinement.
The easiest way to achieve this is by utilizing our Subscription Learning Services, which allow you to adapt to evolving needs seamlessly. Download our free guide to learn more!
The Ultimate Guide to Our Unlimited Learning Subscription
Everything you need to get started and maximize success including an onboarding checklist, a done-for-you template to make the case for stakeholders, and so much more!
Proactive Problem-Solving: Anticipating Challenges
Anticipate potential challenges and develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and minimize disruptions. Collaborate closely with vendor partners to brainstorm contingency plans and implement preemptive solutions. Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration encouraging collective problem-solving and creative thinking. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and resilience leveraging them to strengthen the partnership and enhance outcomes.
As you embark on this journey with your new training company, remember that the mix of excitement and anxiety is normal. Follow the steps in this guide to ensure a seamless onboarding process and a successful collaboration.
Still looking for the perfect training partner or need learning experts? Schedule a free consultation with our team today to create learning that matters!
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