How To Increase Training Adoption In Post-Covid Workplace

You require a more personalized approach

The switch to remote work in the wake of the global pandemic revealed a core message about the workplace: people approach work differently. This is certainly not a novel idea, but it has taken on a new meaning in the post-pandemic world. Employees at the same company, in the same department, or on the same team would all experience a project differently based upon their approach to work during the pandemic.

Now that companies are navigating the shift back to office work, or hybrid work models, a new question arises: how will employers manage the unique needs of their employees, and will they provide flexibility for their teams?
 

Employees want personalization, and they expect it across workplace functions. Whether it’s flexibility in scheduling, a variety of necessary tools at their disposal, or options for completing tasks, personalization is key to keeping employees engaged.

The corporate world is undergoing yet another shift: the transition back to traditional work models. As offices reopen and return to normalcy, companies will need to transform certain essential practices to cater to these changes. When Apple announced that the company would require employees to begin a hybrid work model starting in September 2021, employees pushed back. People are looking for flexibility, autonomy, and personalization, even at top-tier companies.

Training is essential for workplace success. Whether onboarding or ongoing instruction, companies use training tools to keep everyone on the same page. This will be essential in the post-pandemic world, but training adoption has always lagged. The key to keeping employees engaged with company training and education is to offer personalized options. After all, it’s what they expect.

Training Technology Offers Flexibility

Historically, company training materials required employees to go out of their way to schedule, learn and adapt to a new format. Whether it was a seminar-style event or an online course, most training materials have been cumbersome and time-consuming. Employees are already required to learn and use multiple technology platforms daily. Adding a new system, for the sole use of training, increases employee frustration.

New learning management tools are now available on platforms that integrate with existing workforce management systems. At ExpertusONE for example, we make our LMS technology available through apps for Salesforce and Slack as these are what many employees are already using on a daily basis. This makes it easier for companies to communicate with their employees, and it takes the hassle out of finding and accessing learning resources.

Companies need to determine the most efficient and least cumbersome ways for their employees to stay up-to-date on training materials and company practices. Integrative technology can help increase training adoption because it streamlines the learning experience.

Context Switching Eliminated

Advancements in technology have offered companies many useful tools to enhance productivity, but some companies have more tools than are helpful. Productivity wanes when employees switch from multiple software and systems throughout the day.

A recent study released by Workfront in 2020 showed that employees spend less than half of their time working on primary job duties. Instead, they are spending more time answering emails, responding to messages, and other nonessential tasks. This phenomenon is called “context switching” when workers constantly transition back and forth between platforms, tasks, and communication methods. It decreases productivity, adds to stress, and increases the mental workload.

Training is an essential part of the workplace environment, but it is unsuccessful when it takes away from the actual work employees are hired to complete. For training to be effective, companies need to eliminate the need for context switching and make learning available in the employees’ primary productivity tool.

Personalization in Practice 

In order to take a personalized approach and increase training adoption, companies need to acknowledge the individual needs of each employee.

In addition to software that integrates into the platforms employees already use, companies should tailor the content itself to ensure that only necessary content is reviewed. Training materials should be specific to each department, or an individual’s needs. This is essential as companies shift back to in-person or hybrid work. Some employees may have different training needs than others, depending on their work style post-pandemic.

The shift toward personalization is an ongoing trend in the learning and development industry. It reflects overall trends we’re seeing in the broader marketplace, too. From marketing to sales, to more specialized fields, people want customized experiences and they want companies to recognize that every person is different.

Training adoption will require personalization in this new world of hybrid work. The pandemic changed how we understand our relationship with employees, and it has transformed their expectations around how their employers should serve them. A symbiotic relationship between companies and employees will require an acknowledgment of these unique and changing preferences. 

Ramesh Ramani is Co-Founder and CEO of ExpertusONE. Visit www.expertusone.com  Connect Ramesh Ramani