If you’re still assigning employee training without a clear structure or outcome, you’re likely wasting time, money, and talent. The absence of a well-defined employee training plan template could be costing your business more than you think.
A lack of targeted training impacts engagement, performance, and retention, and the data proves it. LinkedIn’s 2019 Workforce Learning Report found that 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in helping them learn.
In fast-moving environments where skills become obsolete in months, not years, organizations that lack structured training risk falling behind, both in results and in talent retention.
What Is an Employee Training Plan?
An employee training plan is a structured document that outlines the goals, methods, key performance indicators (KPIs), and timelines for upskilling an employee or teams. In essence, it ensures training is aligned with business outcomes and the individual’s or the team’s performance targets.
A training plan helps:
- Asses training needs
- Identify skill gaps
- Assign measurable KPIs
- Ensure manager-employee alignment
- Develop training content
- Track progress post-training
- Improve performance
Benefits of Using an Employee Training Plan Template
An employee training plan template doesn’t only help the people, but the company as well. Here’s the benefits of using such training tool from two different spectrums:
For Managers, L&D Professionals, and Facilitators
Manually building a plan every time you onboard or upskill an employee is inefficient. An employee training plan template simplifies the process while ensuring structure, consistency, and clarity.
Key benefits include:
- Saves time with a repeatable structure
- Reduces ambiguity in training expectations
- Helps align employee goals with team and organizational strategy
- Provides a ready-made format to capture SMART goals and KPIs
- Prepares you for performance reviews and training ROI evaluations
Whether you’re onboarding new hires or reskilling a tenured team, having a guided framework supports strategic improvement.
For the Business
A well-structured approach to training impacts every level of an organization. Here’s what companies gain:
- Higher retention: Employees with professional development opportunities have 34% higher retention and are 15% more engaged, according to BetterBuys.
- Fewer mistakes: Trained employees are more prepared in resolving issues in operations, service, and compliance, reducing costly errors.
- More loyal customers: With the right training, employees deliver better customer service, which leads to higher satisfaction and repeat business.
- Stronger team cohesion: When everyone is aligned through shared knowledge and goals, collaboration becomes smoother and more effective.
- Competitive advantage: Teams who are continuously trained stay updated on tools, technologies, and best practices, giving the business a leading edge.
How to Use Our Free Employee Training Plan Template
Our free employee training plan template was designed to be simple, actionable, and high-impact. You can use it to:
- Collect employee and manager information
- Identify general and job-specific KPIs
- Conduct a skill gap analysis
- Set SMART goals for development
- Select the right training format
- Summarize and track training progress
It’s the perfect first step before moving into a more scalable, automated platform like Code of Talent.
Key Sections Included in the Template
Here’s what’s inside the PDF:
| Employee Info & Training Context | Capture key details like employee ID, department, and manager notes |
| Performance KPIs Assessment | Includes a checklist of general and job-specific performance indicators |
| Skill Gap Analysis | Identify gaps in areas like communication, leadership skills, compliance, and technical skills |
| SMART Goal Builder | Guided goal-setting using the SMART methodology with space for five detailed objectives |
| Training Type Selector | A comprehensive checklist covering compliance, customer service, sales, soft skills, and more (50+ training examples) |
| Training Summary Table | Capture goals, timelines, owners, and measurable KPIs—all in one view |
Best Practices for Creating an Effective Training Plan
Even with a solid template, your training plan needs the right mindset behind it. Here’s how to make it work:
Be KPI-Driven
Attach measurable outcomes to your training. Identify KPIs (like customer satisfaction or time to productivity) that will show if the training is working.
Customize by Role
Different roles have different needs. A frontline employee requires different skills than a team lead or manager.
Establish Clear Goals
Every training plan should start with a purpose. Are you aiming to boost sales performance, reduce errors, or improve onboarding efficiency?
Keep It Interactive
Use tools like feedback forms, quizzes, and discussion prompts to encourage active participation and reinforce learning.
Track & Reassess
Use pre- and post-training data to evaluate effectiveness. Are KPIs improving? Is performance shifting? Use that insight to refine your approach.
Digitize When Ready
Manual training processes don’t scale. Platforms like Code of Talent help you automate delivery, track engagement, and use analytics to continuously optimize your learning strategy.
Download Your Free Employee Training Plan Template Now
You now have access to a proven structure to design better learning paths and improve performance across your teams.
But don’t stop at static checklists. With Code of Talent, you can:
- Turn plans into real-time microlearning journeys
- Track performance automatically with built-in analytics
- Assign training, monitor progress, and adjust goals—all in one place
Start your free trial of Code of Talent today and don’t forget to download our employee training plan template!
Cover photo: Freepik
