Ensuring your team is proficient in Excel is a great way to boost their output.

This is the case especially if your business heavily relies on the use of Excel to streamline business operations. But whenever a business is developing a training plan, certain challenges will require resolution.

In this article, we’ll talk about five common problems that come up when introducing on-site Excel training programs and suggest good solutions.

5 Common Challenges You Might Encounter When Launching On-Site Excel Training

1. Getting around different levels of proficiency

One of the biggest problems with on-site Excel training is that it can be hard to accommodate people with different levels of skill. Your team members don’t all know how to use Excel the same way. Some may be complete beginners, while others may be seasoned pros.

Therefore, to deal with this situation, you first need to do a preliminary review to see how skilled your employees are. Putting them into groups based on how well they did on the tests makes sure that everyone gets the help they need, eliminating feelings of rejection or overload.

Moreover, regardless of their level of proficiency, if your employees are not able to use Excel in the context of your business operations, your training efforts will fall short. For that purpose, hiring professionals to provide Excel on-site training tailored to your business needs is your best bet. Working with experts to achieve your training goals is a surefire way to improve employee productivity and boost performance. 

2. Problems with scheduling

Setting up effective on-site training events that work for everyone’s schedules can be a huge challenge. Some team members may already have responsibilities that make it hard for them to participate.

This is where software solutions can come into play. With the help of the right software, your employees will be able to learn whenever they are free. Plus, you will be able to ensure they are not under a lot of stress, as sometimes working with an instructor can put pressure on them.

By honing their skills on their own with the right software solution, you don’t have to worry about scheduling and can rest assured that all of your employees will develop their skills rather quickly.

3. Retaining knowledge

Maintaining the motivation of your employees during training and making sure they remember what they’ve learned is a big task. This problem can be solved effectively by using innovative training methods. You can give your employees real-world tasks so that the knowledge they have accumulated can be put into practice. 

That being said, using Excel in the real world instead of just teaching them theory works out quite well. Case studies, problem-solving activities, and examples from real life will help your employees learn more effectively and remember what they’ve learned better.

4. Being resistant to change

A lot of workers don’t want to change the way they normally do their jobs, especially if they are used to certain routines. This kind of pushback can make it hard for new Excel methods to be adopted.

To get past this resistance, stress the benefits of these new ways of doing things during on-site training. Explain how these techniques can help them do their jobs better and make their tasks easier. Asking for feedback after a few training sessions is another powerful tool that can be used to bring about change.

5. Not many training materials

In on-site training programs, one common problem is that training tools and materials are not always easy to get to.

To find creative ways to solve this problem, you could use online tools or hire outside help. Encourage your employees who are good at Excel to help their coworkers. This will turn them into internal sources of knowledge. This not only makes up for a lack of resources but also encourages the sharing of information.

Whether you choose a comprehensive tool or look for third-party Excel help, it will all depend on your budget. Opting for a tool will, of course, be more affordable, and you will be able to use those resources to train more employees. But outsourcing Excel training to professionals will ensure the training meets your business’s needs.

Conclusion

About 1 in 8 people in the world use Excel for personal or business purposes, and the need for training is always present.

That being said, you can make a strong training plan that meets the needs of everyone on your team if you plan it carefully, are flexible, and keep the focus on engagement. 

It’s not enough to just teach them Excel; you need to show them how it can help them do their jobs better by making things more efficient and effective.