The modern-day multinational simply cannot ignore online training anymore. Of course, impact varies across sectors and organizations, but on an international level, the benefits far outweigh conventional training. Let’s have a look at some of these benefits.
An Overview of Global Soft Skills
When it comes to analyzing and automating worldwide knowledge levels, e-learning already means a big step forward. E-training now offers the same advantage for communication skills through online training and testing. It allows you to have a grip on all your global training courses; provides a central overview of soft skill levels per region, department, team or individual; and generates an insight that we have never seen before.
A Consistent Story
Every branded multinational – grown either autonomously or through acquisitions – wants its core values represented consistently in the style and communication of all its employees worldwide. You won’t reach this goal by calling your regional directors to HQ three times a year and handing out a “how-to-behave” manual or e-learning program. It requires consistent training and testing for everyone. Offline, this consistency has always been unfeasible, but online, it is both effective and within reach.
Act Local
However globally organized you may be, when servicing local clients, you will have to adjust to their language and culture. The situations and normative framework will differ between Venezuela and Poland. But the quality shouldn’t! No one needs a hodgepodge of learning methods and randomly chosen actors and trainers. E-training lets you implement the same solid base in each region, on top of which the local content consists of local and recognizable role plays and testable competences.
Smart Data Solutions
Worldwide online training and testing renders lots of information. Information is useful, but combining and using it to your advantage is where it really gets interesting. The potential power of HR analytics, such as internal benchmarking, is huge. It starts with setting norms for communication skills and training and then testing them. Based on these data, you can draw relationships between, for instance, skill levels and performance in terms of sales, customer satisfaction and retention in different regions or departments. With smart use of data to develop both individuals and KPIs, HR has never been this strategic.
Streamlined Internal Communications
Within the organization itself, multinationals have to deal with different cultures and communicative expectations. On the one hand, they can draw, train and test the same standard up to a certain level, for which the same global training is essential. On the other hand, employees need to be aware of differences and anticipate them in their communication. In the absence of experience, this understanding requires unlimited practice through video role plays.
Intercultural Interaction
Communication between cultures doesn’t stop at the boundaries of the organization, however. Employees in a multinational organization, especially those at a high level, will interact with business partners from several different backgrounds. Negotiating with Japanese professionals is different from negotiating with Mexican professionals, for instance. Knowing how to express your opinion and when to show certain feelings requires knowledge and practice, which is best done online.
Time and Cost Savings
Even with online contact and a massive exchange of video role plays, face-to-face contact is still necessary. But combined with e-training, it reaches another level. For example, since a manager already understands and has practiced these skills, she can reach her own goals much more effectively. On the way to a meeting in Bangkok or Miami, she’ll practice her intercultural communication and closing techniques at 35,000 feet in the air and close the deal immediately after her arrival.
Marijn de Geus is co-founder and CEO of TrainTool, offering Smart Video Role Plays to develop soft skills
