Cross training involves training employees to perform different tasks within an organization. It provides flexibility for managing workloads and allows employees to learn new skills. While it can benefit employees through skill development and reduced boredom, as well as employers by cutting costs and improving workflow, cross training needs to be implemented carefully to avoid stressing employees or making them feel exploited.

1. Dealing well
with
Cross
Training

2. Dealing well with Cross Training
Introduction
• Cross training is training an
employee to do a different
part of the organization's
work:
– Training worker A to do the
task that worker B does and
training B to do A's task is cross
training.

3. Dealing well with Cross Training
Important
• When dealing with Cross
Training it is important to
highlight that:
– It is against human nature to
remain static, performing the
same duties day in, day out,
without expectations of change
in routine or opportunities for
advancement.

4. Dealing well with Cross Training
Main Aspects
• Cross training is good for
companies, because it provides
more flexibility in managing the
workforce to get the job done.
• However, done right, cross
training is good for the
employees too. It lets them learn
new skills, makes them more
valuable, and can combat worker
boredom.

5. Dealing well with Cross Training
Cross Training – Main Types
Job Enlargement
(Horizontal Expansion)
The addition of tasks that are on the
same level of skill and
responsibility.
Job Enrichment
(Vertical Expansion)
The addition of tasks that give the
employee more control or more
responsibility.

6. Dealing well with Cross Training
Benefits - Employee, Department and Employer

7. Dealing well with Cross Training
Benefits – Employee
• It allows an employee to develop new
relationships, increasing his
professional network.
• It shows that an employee is
hardworking, dedicated and someone
who is willing to do what it takes to get
the job done.
• It can improve the employee inter-
department respect due to a deeper
understanding of how the business
works and demands.

8. Dealing well with Cross Training
Benefits - Department
• A cross-trained workforce can
increase comradeship and promote
teamwork within the organization.
• Department members can recognize
the overall goals and operations of
each different department and
misunderstandings can be reduced.
• Cross training creates a team of
workers who are more knowledgeable
with more confidence regarding their
professional expertise.

9. Dealing well with Cross Training
Benefits - Employer
• It helps employers to cut costs and
expenses, improving the workflow
between departments.
• Erases differences and unhealthy
competition, improving company
overall motivation
• Leads to the sharing of
organizational goals and objectives.
• It provides a built-in temporary
workforce when an employee is
absent.

10. Dealing well with Cross Training
Main Downsides
• Cross training can be stressful for
employees especially if they are
consistently performing two or more job
duties at the same time.
• It can add unrewarded responsibilities
on the shoulders of company
employees, resulting in a feeling of
exploitation.
• When a company allows employees to
know about all the aspects of its
business, they might become important
assets and targets for unethical
competitors.

11. Dealing well with Cross Training
Cross Training Implementation
• Carefully select the employees to be
cross trained:
– Some people like to learn new things but
some not.
• It should be carefully planned and
presented as a learning and career
opportunity.
• When planning cross-training consider
payroll costs, “acceptance” and
cooperation by all department.
• Custom-tailor the cross-training to the
needs of each individual and the
organization.

12. Dealing well with Cross Training
Conclusion
• Cross training should be
one of the strategies to be
always implemented inside
a company.
• And it is an effective
training technique which
results in motivation, career
development and better
workflow.

13. Improving your Charisma Skills
Our References
• We would like to thank the following writers for
their expressive contribution for this
presentation:
– F. John Reh,
http://management.about.com/cs/people/a/crosstrain.htm
– Melvin Richardson, http://voices.yahoo.com/benefits-
cross-training-corporate-training-3094423.html?cat=3
– Marilyn Holt, CMC, CEO,
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/20
07/04/cross-training.html
– Claire Belilos,
http://www.easytraining.com/crosstrain.htm

14. Dealing well with Cross Training
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