Process Manager Tim McBride was having a tough time getting supervisor training to stick. Here’s how he used a simple tech tool to reinforce the message everyday.

As part of an ongoing series, we’ll have practicing HR managers present real problems they faced and how they solved them.

Our supervisors simply weren’t retaining all of their training. We’d hold a training session and things would get better - for a little while. Then they’d would fall back into their regular routine.

There had to be a way we could remind supervisors of their training without always having to hold more sessions.

Previously, management passed out a lot of documents to reinforce what was discussed, but the paperwork was excessive and managers often put it off to the side. Knowing our methods weren’t perfect, we listened when a supervisor came to us with a suggestion.

Round the clock training

The idea: Use screensavers to display training info on supervisors’ computers. Using an off-the-shelf program, the slideshow screensavers were easy to create and install.

Now, what we discuss in training is reinforced around the clock whenever a screensaver kicks on. The slides are often taken directly from the last training session.

Supervisors absorb, and even enjoy, the reminders that appear while they’re filling out paperwork or eating lunch at their desks. Plus, employees love suggesting things to include in the screensaver.

(Tim McBride, process manager, Solid State Stamping, Inc., Temecula, CA)