Training isn’t just about skill development — it’s a critical retention tool. A recent SHRM study found that 76% of employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers continuous training. Yet many organizations struggle to deliver engaging, impactful learning experiences at scale.

Donut Journeys provides a smart approach to employee development. By combining automation, personalization, and social learning, it turns standard training into engaging experiences that yield tangible outcomes.

Let’s explore how you can leverage and customize Donut’s prebuilt Journeys to create training programs that not only teach skills, but also nurture a culture of continuous learning, enhancing both employee capabilities and long-term retention.

Donut Journeys for Training

Donut offers two prebuilt Journeys for training:

1. New Manager Training (14 weeks, 22 messages)
2. Public Speaking and Presentation Skills (6 weeks, 18 messages)

These programs involve roles such as Trainee, Manager, and Buddy, ensuring a comprehensive approach to skill development.

Deep Dive: New Manager Training Journey

This 14-week Journey is designed to set newly promoted managers up for success. Here’s how you might structure it:

Weeks 1-2: Foundations of Management

• Introduce key leadership concepts.
• Provide self-assessment tools.
• Schedule introductions with peer managers.

Weeks 3-6: Essential Skills Development

• Deliver modules on communication, delegation, and feedback.
• Prompt managers to practice skills with their teams.
• Facilitate peer discussions on leadership challenges.

Weeks 7-10: Advanced Topics

• Cover subjects like strategic thinking and change management.
• Assign practical exercises to apply concepts.
• Schedule check-ins with senior leaders for mentorship.

Weeks 11-14: Integration and Reflection

• Guide managers in creating personal development plans.
• Collect feedback on the training program.
• Celebrate completion and set expectations for ongoing learning.

Use Case: Tech Company Leadership Development

Imagine you’re running a new manager training program for a rapidly growing tech company. Here’s how you might use the Journey:

• Customize messages to reflect your company’s leadership philosophy.
• Use Donut to pair new managers with experienced leaders for mentorship.
• Set up bi-weekly challenges that align with real-world management scenarios.
• Create a final “Leadership Summit” where new managers present their learnings and plans.

Tips & Tricks

1. Use microlearning principles. Break down complex topics into digestible, daily tips.
2. Leverage Donut Intros to create peer support groups among new managers.
3. Incorporate links to multimedia content like videos or podcasts to cater to different learning styles.
4. Use Donut’s polling feature to gather real-time feedback and adjust the program as needed.
5. Customize a Hub dedicated to the Training Journey where participants can access key resources and links throughout the program.

Deep Dive: Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Journey

This six-week Journey focuses on building confidence and competence in public speaking. Here’s how you might approach it:

Weeks 1-2: Foundations

• Introduce key principles of effective communication.
• Assign self-recorded practice speeches.
• Pair participants with buddies for feedback.

Weeks 3-4: Advanced Techniques

• Cover topics like storytelling and handling Q&A sessions.
• Organize small group practice sessions.
• Provide templates for presentation structures.

Weeks 5-6: Practical Application

• Guide participants in preparing a final presentation.
• Organize a “Presentation Showcase” event.
• Collect peer and expert feedback.

Use Case: Cross-Functional Presentation Skills Enhancement

Imagine you’re implementing this Journey for a group of employees from various departments who want to improve their presentation skills for client meetings, internal presentations, and industry conferences. Here’s how you might use the Journey:

• Customize content for different presentation contexts (e.g., sales pitches, technical demonstrations, executive summaries).
• Use Donut to pair participants from different departments for practice and feedback.
• Set up weekly virtual “Open Mic” sessions where participants can practice in a low-stakes environment.
• Create a final “Presentation Showcase” where participants deliver talks to a company-wide audience.

Tips & Tricks

1. Leverage video conferencing tools. Encourage participants to record and review their practice presentations with peers.
2. Use Donut’s polling feature to conduct quick peer evaluations after practice sessions.
3. Use Hubs to create a “Presentation Resource Library” with links to exemplary presentations, useful templates, and tip sheets.
4. Incorporate real-world application by having participants deliver actual work presentations as part of the Journey.
5. Use Donut to facilitate “Expert Hours” where experienced presenters from the company offer office hours for personalized coaching.

By applying these tips, you can create a dynamic, interactive Public Speaking and Presentation Skills training program that not only builds skills but also fosters cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Donut Journeys can help create an environment where learning, practice, and teamwork naturally come together. The result? Training programs that don’t just impart knowledge, but spark genuine growth and innovation across your organization.

If you have questions or need guidance as you kick off your next training program, contact us by clicking the purple Donut icon in the lower right corner. We’re here to help!