13. Get Your Team Up to Speed Faster: The 5 D's for Training

The Problem with Most On-the-Job Training

Most businesses are too busy to train properly—so new hires just get thrown in, follow someone around, and try to figure it out. But that leads to:
❌ Inconsistent training – Everyone does things differently.
❌ Slow learning – People pick up bad habits or struggle to keep up.
❌ Frustration – For both the trainer and the trainee.

A better approach makes training faster, easier, and more effective. 

It helps you to develop a more consistent and capable team.

The 5 D’s of On-the-Job Training

1. Decide

What exactly are they learning? Be clear about the task, the goal, and how it fits into the bigger picture.

2. Document 

Have a simple checklist, SOP, or notes so everyone is training the same way. A documented process stops knowledge gaps and inconsistencies

3. Demonstrate 

Show them how to do it correctly. People learn best by seeing a good example first.

4. Duplicate

Get them to copy the process until they can do it consistently without mistakes.

5. Delegate & Do It 

If they’re confident and you’re confident, hand it over. Let them take full ownership of the task.

Why This Works

✔️ Faster training = quicker return on investment – The sooner they’re confident, the sooner they add value.
✔️ Fewer mistakes – Standardised training reduces costly errors.
✔️ Less frustration – A structured approach makes training smoother for everyone.

Need Help with Training?

At Onsite Insight, we help businesses create simple, practical training systems—whether that’s documenting your processes or making your existing system work better.

Stop wasting time on training that doesn’t stick. Let’s set up something that actually works.