Peanut butter and jelly are notorious counterparts that complement each other beautifully when layered between two slices of bread. Can you have one without the other?
That’s debatable.
Another close and often inseparable duo, are millennials and technology. Growing up with technology at their literal fingertips has afforded millennials the opportunity to connect and gather information faster than any other previous generation.
In fact, more than half of millennials said they would rather give up their sense of smell than give up their technology, according to an infographic from Badgeville. That puts an interesting perspective on just how important technology is to millennials.
Now, how do companies effectively leverage technology in the workplace (without forcing millennials to forgo their sense of smell)?
Social media is a good place to start.
Social media is one of the fastest ways to receive information. So fast, that some social media sites have character constraints on messages. So, that message better pack quite a punch. In the blink of 140 characters, you can obtain a powerful message that can lead to a click with additional information.
According to an infographic developed by Peoplefluent, 74 percent of social technology users benefit from quicker access to knowledge. Social media is a two-way street that gives users the opportunity to author and contribute content just as easily as they consume it.
Including social, video, mobile and gamification practices into learning initiatives can radically transform the way employees consume information. User-generated content can easily be developed and transmitted through social and video channels.
Using video as a learning tool is a cost-effective way to share information quickly. One known subject matter expert (SME) attaches a video camera to the dashboard of his car on his drive to work each morning and records a 15-minute segment on his area of expertise, said Don Duquette, executive vice president at GP Strategies, in his article, “User-Generated Content.”
These videos are extremely popular, and as they should be; they’re informative, informal and immediately accessible to learners.
User-generated content developed by SMEs reduces cost and time to delivery. Learning and development initiatives don’t need to be contained to a classroom for X-amount of time in order for them to be effective. Sometimes all it takes is a flip camera and a video channel to effectively export knowledge to your workforce.
When developing learning programs that resonate with the millennials on your team, consider using a bite-sized approach, powered by technology, to achieve that perfect blend ─ just like the classic PB&J.
