Top 5 Performance Management Online Training Strategies

Top 5 Performance Management Online Training Strategies
Summary: One of the most effective ways to boost an organization's productivity, profits, and professional accountability is by creating a winning performance management online training strategy. In this article, I'll highlight the top 5 performance management online training strategies that you should be aware of.

Performance Management Online Training Strategies

As the saying goes “the chain is only as strong as its weakest link” and this saying couldn't be more true when it comes to employee performance. Your organization's success depends upon the performance of each and every staff member. As such, developing a performance management online training strategy that is effective and caters to the needs of every employee is key. Here are the top 5 performance management training strategies you may want to consider when developing your next online training deliverable.

  1. Interactive Scenarios.
    Scenarios are powerful and interactive learning tools that give employees the opportunity to not only explore the real world applications of the subject matter, but to also realize the benefits they can receive by learning and retaining this knowledge for later use. Scenarios help employees to relate to the subject matter, and to understand how each decision they make can lead to real world consequences, without any risk involved. They are in a safe and secure training environment where they can explore the repercussions of their choices without being judged or compromising their on-the-job performance. When developing an eLearning scenario for your performance management online training, make it relatable and realistic so that employees can feel connected to the topic being explored. Use images that feature people or settings that employees might encounter at work, and situations that they would typically face on a regular basis. Remember, you want to support or reinforce certain behaviors, so you'll need to ensure that every element of your scenario ties into real life performance issues or challenges.
  2. “Bookend” assessments.
    While many eLearning professionals may use assessments at the end of an online training session, it's also beneficial to integrate them in the beginning to effectively gauge employee knowledge beforehand. By doing so, you can see how much they know before the online training session begins, so that you can actually measure the effectiveness of your performance management online training strategy, when they've completed the online training. For example, if a quiz at the beginning of an online training event finds that an employee is unaware of certain compliance standards and a completion assessment reveals that this employee has learned about the new policies and procedures, then you do know that your performance management online training strategy is actually effective. When creating your “bookend” assessments, you can opt for standard multiple choice questions or something more interactive, such as a drag and drop based exam or even scenario questions that track their progress.
  3. Immersive simulations.
    Simulations give your employees the opportunity to delve into a particular task or process in an environment where they can learn from their mistakes and build upon their skill sets at their own pace. Rather than being pushed out onto the sales floor without having any prior knowledge of how to complete a sale or run a POS terminal, for example, they can learn all they need to know by participating in a simulation. This is such an effective performance management online training strategy because employees have a chance to see how each decision or action they make can directly impact their on-the-job performance. When creating your simulation for performance management online training, make it as realistic and relatable as possible. Choose stock images that feature professionals who look similar to them, such as those wearing attire the might find at work, and do your research to get a clear idea of what steps are involved in various processes. You won't want to develop a simulation that features unnecessary steps or incorrect procedures, for example, as this would merely reinforce negative learning behaviors.
  4. In depth video walkthroughs.
    Lengthy text blocks that include an abundance of information simply don't allow employees to effectively absorb and retain information. If you are trying to walk them through an important work task or process, try using a video walkthrough that highlights every step they need to complete, how it should be completed, and why it's so important that the process be carried out in this specific way. By doing so, your employees are more motivated to learn, because they are being equipped with the knowledge they need without being bored or overwhelmed by verbose text blocks. When creating the video walkthrough, use a narrator with a clear voice and background music that builds that feeling of immersion with the employer.
  5. “Moment of Need” troubleshooting guides or tutorials.
    Giving employees the information they need when they need it the most, is one of the most effective ways to boost knowledge retention and improve work performance. You can do this by offering your employees “moment of needperformance support tools, such as troubleshooting guides they can use on the job or tutorials they can access on their mobile devices or work computers in order to resolve a problem. For example, if a tech support employee is unaware of how to answer a trouble ticket, he/she can simply access the guide or watch the tutorial to gain a better understanding of what to do. This also gives them the chance to follow company policy and procedures, given that they have an at-the-ready guide that will walk them through company rules and regulations.

Enhance the effectiveness of your performance management training by integrating these powerful strategies into your online training design. Not only will your employees get the most benefit from their online training experience, but your organization (or your client) will see a boost in their ROI, customer satisfaction, and employee retention rates.

Looking for effective ways to design interactive virtual classroom training? In the article 6 Tips To Design Interactive Virtual Classroom Training you will find tips that can offer you the chance to develop online training deliverables that provide your employees with the best possible virtual training experience, so that they can hone their skills, expand their professional knowledge base, and boost on-the-job performance.