However diverse your workforce may be, one constant reality among all ages and stages is the competition our messages have with all of our life and family commitments. Our society is on the go, consuming information at an increasing speed and in increasingly fragmented ways. In response, the best employee training today is personalized and takes advantage of all the technological resources we now have at our fingertips.
That means delivering relevant, engaging content where our employees are and in the best way for them to receive it. For most companies, personalized learning translates into a blend of methods, including in-house seminars with live instructors, field demonstrations with hands-on learning and online courses available on demand. That last category has certainly taken off: According to eLogic Learning, approximately 77 percent of U.S. companies offer online training, and 67 percent of learners now use mobile devices to access learning.
When we create training programs, we want to maximize the benefits of employees’ existing abilities while developing them for greater roles and responsibilities. So, what are some of the unique advantages of assembling a blend of training tools to drive your team?
A blended learning environment offers flexibility and control for employees as they balance their job duties with their continuing education. The ability to participate in a training program anytime or anywhere using a mobile device or laptop offers employees control over their learning and opens up more opportunities for them to explore at their own pace. Online and on-demand resources are particularly helpful for training on the job – for example, when an employee can access product-specific tutorials and step-by-step instructions on the sales floor rather than waiting for the next scheduled training to address their concerns and questions. Some employees will even appreciate the opportunity to train from home at a time and place that is convenient for them.
To be sure, in-person training and in-field demonstrations offer a hands-on experience that just can’t be duplicated online. Particularly when complex topics or intricate labor are involved, students will typically learn best as doers rather than observers. By participating in a live group class, trainees can interact with each other and delve deeper into the subject matter through discussion, which often promotes better processing and adoption of new information. Physically attending a class also creates a distraction-free time where students can really absorb the material.
When employees find that they need extra help with a particular training topic, access to supplemental resources online can help them find the guidance they need outside of in-person instruction. They can also personalize their training activities to meet individual goals, using specific training modules created for the development of those skills. If they want additional practice with customer service-based scenarios, for example, they have access to a training module tailored to that need.
Using video libraries and online resources for continuous on-the-job support ensures employees can access the latest updates and achieve constant growth. That level of training support shows employees that their employer is investing in them, that their role in the company is valued, and that their individual development and career are a shared priority.
So, as our world increasingly moves online, blending the advantages of digital learning with human interaction and hands-on practice will continue to be a consideration for the people creating the training programs that develop the workforce. We would do well to keep in mind the end goal, which is to meet the unique learning needs of our employees. Giving employees power over their learning will drive your program into the future.
