Which Staff Training Method Is Better? Internal Or External?

In today’s ever-changing environment, businesses need to keep up with the latest trends and developments in the industry. And that includes keeping your employees in the loop as well.
‘But wait… what’s the best method to achieve that?’
Well, that’s where staff training comes in.
Many business owners think that training their employees is a waste of time and resources. However, that’s simply not true.
As Benjamin Franklin aptly said, ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ Therefore, training is no longer an added benefit that you can provide to your employees. Instead, it has become a necessity.
Unfortunately, this is where things start getting a bit tricky. We say this because when it comes to training methods, there are two kinds: internal and external.
And you’re likely to get confused between them, which is why we’re going to help you out.
In this blog, we’ll be conducting an in-depth review of the two training methods.
So, let’s get started:

Internal Training

Also known as in-house training, internal training is when you ask a staff member of your organization to provide training to the rest of the employees.
In simple words, internal training is provided by someone who works for your company.
It’s usually a person working in your Human Resources (HR) department. But there’s no hard and fast rule that states it has to be that way.
It actually depends on the session, and who the best person for the job is. For instance, if you want to train your sales team, then asking a person working in the HR department to do that wouldn’t produce the desired results.

Pros Of Internal Training

One of the most appealing advantages of internal training is that it is easy to organize. And that’s because you have everyone and everything you need at once place.
Consequently, it’s quicker and cheaper to arrange. You won’t have to worry about flying in a professional from somewhere else and pay a significant amount to do so.
Internal training is an effective solution if you run a small business, where your budget is already quite low.
Another notable quality of internal training is that it’s often informal. The session is being conducted by someone whom your employees already know. So, there’s no reason to worry about your trainer and staff not getting along.
Finally, internal training doesn’t only help the employees but the trainer too. They may have overlooked a few gaps that existed before. However, when an internal trainer is repeating the topics, it can add to their knowledge.

Cons Of Internal Training

Just like a side has two coins, there are some limitations to internal training as well. The primary one being that your employees are more likely to become a target of groupthink.
‘What’s groupthink?’
Groupthink refers to a psychological phenomenon in which people will set aside their own ideas just to agree with the rest of the group.
It can prove damaging to an organization’s culture if the internal trainer is proposing wrong ideas. And while there may be employees who think otherwise, they won’t raise their concerns simply because they don’t want to interfere with the group’s uniformity.

External Training

External training is provided by an experienced person who doesn’t work in your organization.
External trainers can be directly related to your company – such as a supplier – or an industry expert who has been specially brought to share their expertise with the rest of your employees.

Pros Of External Training

External training brings a fresh perspective to the organization. That is undoubtedly the primary upside of hiring an external trainer.
It gives your employees a chance to learn valuable insight directly from industry experts. External trainers can help your company break out from the ‘status quo,’ which could negatively or positively impact your organization.
Another critical advantage of external training is the expertise. Internal trainers may be good at their job, but they might not possess the qualities required to train other employees.
That’s where external trainers stand out. They have relevant experience related to the specific subject area that you’ve hired them for.

Cons Of External Training

The best people are always busy.
Therefore, arranging an external trainer can be time-consuming. Not to forget that it would cost a significant amount to arrange transport and accommodation for them.
So, if you own a large organization where time and expenses wouldn’t be an issue, hiring an external trainer would be best suited for your needs.

Conclusion

To sum it up, neither training method is better than the other.
It might not be the answer you’re looking for, but it’s undoubtedly the one you deserve. It all boils down to what’s best for you and your company.
With that said, if you’re looking for an experienced external trainer to train your employees, SBLO2GO is the place to be.
Having served the industry for more than 15 years, our team and proven training methods will significantly contribute to your company’s growth.