Training Videos: Let’s set the scene.

It’s Monday. Kevin from HR is standing in front of a group of new hires. He’s holding a stack of stapled handouts, sweating through his khakis, and trying to explain the difference between “Form 47B” and “Form 47C.” Somewhere in the back, a guy named Steve is already asleep. Congratulations. You’ve just wasted a perfectly good orientation.

Enter: the training video.

A magical, looping, pauseable, rewindable unicorn of productivity. Done right, it’s the superhero of onboarding, compliance, safety, and even how to use that coffee machine that’s smarter than half your sales team. Done wrong? Well, you might as well just hand out VHS tapes and a coupon for therapy.

Why You Need Training Videos (Besides Kevin’s Blood Pressure)

According to Forrester Research, employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than to read documents, emails, or web articles (Forrester, 2023). Why? Because video doesn’t require pants, caffeine, or reading comprehension above a third-grade level.

And Wyzowl’s 2023 report found that 91% of businesses use video as a training tool — because it saves time, improves retention, and lets you skip the awkward “this is a safe space” preamble.

Types of Training Videos That Don’t Make People Weep

If you’re still filming Karen from Accounting reading safety tips off a Word doc, please stop. Here are some training video formats that actually work:

1. The Animated Explainer

Perfect for breaking down complicated systems like your software, your workflow, or your cafeteria etiquette (Tim, don’t microwave fish again).

2. The Roleplay

Awkward employees pretending to be awkward customers. Somehow still better than real life.

3. The “How Not To” Video

Like a blooper reel with a purpose. Watch Greg nearly light the forklift on fire, then discuss why that’s frowned upon.

4. The Microlearning Series

Short. Snackable. Digestible. Like video tapas. Great for millennials, Gen Z, and people with the attention span of a TikTok scroll.

5. The Live-Action “We Tried”

Shot on-site, with real employees and real coffee stains. Authentic, effective, and occasionally unintentionally hilarious.

But Wait — There’s Science!

Let’s sprinkle in some credibility:

•The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve shows people forget 80% of what they learn within 48 hours — unless it’s reinforced (Ebbinghaus, 1885). Video lets them revisit content without tracking down “that one email” from six months ago.

•According to Psychology Today (2020), emotionally engaging content — even funny or awkward video — dramatically increases memory retention.

•And Wistia (2023) says videos under 2 minutes have the highest engagement. Translation: If you need 30 minutes to explain the breakroom fridge policy, you’re the problem.

How to Make a Training Video That Doesn’t Suck

Step 1: Have a Script

Winging it works great for karaoke. Not training.

Step 2: Be Brief. Be Brilliant. Be Gone.

Keep videos under 5 minutes unless you’re teaching brain surgery or nuclear physics.

Step 3: Use Humor (But Not Lawsuit Humor)

Fun? Yes. Offensive? No. Mildly sarcastic? Encouraged.

Step 4: Show, Don’t Tell

Use visuals. Motion graphics. Real-life demos. If someone can’t figure out how to use the software after the video, the problem isn’t the software.

Step 5: Make it Rewatchable

Add captions. Use chapters. Bonus points if people want to watch it again, even ironically.

Final Thought: Make Kevin Proud

Look, Kevin’s a good guy. But even he would rather sit through a 90-second, well-edited video than spend his morning saying “please hold your questions until the end” 14 times in a row.

A good training video pays for itself in time saved, mistakes avoided, and onboarding headaches prevented.

So next time you’re about to write a manual or schedule a live training session, stop. Think video. Think short. Think smart.

And if possible, think twice before putting Greg near the forklift again.

Citations:

•Forrester Research (2023). Video Engagement in Training & Corporate Learning.

•Wyzowl (2023). State of Video Marketing Survey.

•Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology.

•Wistia (2023). Video Length and Engagement Report.

•Psychology Today (2020). Emotional Learning and Memory Retention.