How Can a Bespoke Training Film Benefit Your Company?

The purpose of employee training is to cultivate a happy, healthy, well-functioning team. Not only do training programmes increase individual productivity and quality of work, but also elevate camaraderie and sense of community in the workplace. There is no “I” in team, and co-worker relationships are the foundation of any smooth-running business. But what is a bespoke training film? And how will it benefit you and your colleagues?

In today’s blog, we will be sharing behind-the-scenes insight into employee training films – designed specifically for your company.

What is a Bespoke Training Film?

We’ve all been subjected to sub-par training films: often online, sometimes accompanied by a series of questions, and always incredibly impersonal. Now, there’s no denying that these training films are mandatory, but at Global Training, we passionately believe that the best forms of employee training should be tailored and personal – with a sprinkling of creativity.

It is important to note that, whilst a training film alone can’t fix a team, it can be a powerful catalyst for growth and learning within an organisation. So, how do we get started?

In order to create a bespoke training film, a company like ours will initially collaborate directly with management, pinpointing specific issues or areas of focus within the team. For example, team leaders may want to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion, flag early signs of workplace bullying, or the perils of micromanagement. Once a relevant topic has been chosen, the thorough research can begin.

Global Training recently created a bespoke training film for the South Central Ambulance Service, where we incorporated real-life testimonials from employees into the script. As an experienced theatre director, I devised and directed this truth-driven piece. I spent significant time with the ambulance team listening, learning and understanding the culture of the organisation. I then brought a superb group of professional actors on board to bring these true stories to life.

Next up: our shoot day. Accompanied by a fantastic film crew, the Global team spent the day on location, collaboratively creating the short film. Here, the three actors became immersed in their characters (who were each based on real people – but had different names to protect anonymity). This was then edited, and sent over to the South Central Ambulance Service team for their review. We are very hopeful that this impactful training film will make a true difference to employees’ working lives – and understanding of each other.

I would personally describe this work as: purposeful, human and catalysing transformational learning – and at Global, we look forward to undertaking more projects like this.

The Benefits of Bespoke Training Films

So, why should your company invest in a bespoke training film? (Naturally, I’m biassed, but these are all entirely objective reasons, I promise!).

A Personalised Approach
Once again, I have to stress the effectiveness of bespoke, personalised training. There’s nothing worse than being herded into a training room and feeling like you’re just another cog in a machine. This feeling is only to be expected when identical programmes from ten years ago are churned out, with little to no acknowledgement of times – or people – changing. Employees need to feel like their voices matter, and training should be the ideal time to reassure them of this – whilst simultaneously fine-tuning internal processes and developing employee skills and relationships.

Not only will a personalised approach to training make employees feel more individually considered, but it is also more effective. A bespoke training programme allows managers to target specific areas or issues within their company, and subsequently focus on what’s most important. Training films like ours are no exception: they are thoughtfully devised with the sole purpose of effectively communicating with your employees, and often contain real-life anecdotes – as opposed to stereotypical ‘stories’ that no one can specifically relate to.

Highlight Important Issues
What’s more, a bespoke training film will centre around an issue – or issues – that have been highlighted by either employers or employees. For example, management may come to us with a particular topic in mind, or we may delve into deeper issues during our research, learning of concerns from employees that their superiors were previously unaware of. These issues could range from difficult conversations, to sexual safety in the workplace, to dysfunctional teams.

The subsequent film will be uniquely tailored to your employees and their experience, which will make it all the more powerful and resonant.

High Impact

And this brings us to our last – and perhaps most compelling – point. From a business perspective, you want any investment to be cost-effective. And likewise, from a human perspective, you want to make a genuine, positive difference to your employees. Due to their personalised nature, bespoke training films provide high impact - as they have been specifically designed to do so. In particular, we have found that training films are especially hard-hitting when managers or employees are made aware that the stories dramatised are based on real events - from the perspectives of the colleagues around them.

Additionally, there have been many studies exploring the powerful impact of storytelling on memory retention. Paul Smith, in “Leader as Storyteller: 10 Reasons It Makes a Better Business Connection”, wrote: “Storytelling has aspects that work for all three types (of learning). Visual learners appreciate the mental pictures storytelling evokes. Auditory learners focus on the words and the storyteller’s voice. Kinesthetic learners remember the emotional connections and feelings from the story.”

What’s more, it can be incredibly affirming when people realise that they have shared experiences with other colleagues, or perhaps eye-opening to learn what others are thinking and feeling. We can also unwittingly reveal our own unconscious biases, by feeling taken aback by the experiences of colleagues who we stereotypically wouldn’t perceive as ‘vulnerable’. All in all, the messages delivered by bespoke training films can send shockwaves of emotions and realisation like no other.

Do you think a training film designed and devised for your company would be beneficial? We’d love to chat to you more about it. Get in touch today by emailing georgie@wearegtg.co.uk.