7 Tips To Promote A Strong Work Ethic Through Corporate eLearning

How To Promote A Strong Work Ethic Through Corporate eLearning

There are certain soft skills that are more challenging to cultivate, and a strong work ethic is at the top of that list. This is because it consists of so many different secondary skills, all of which must be finely tuned over time. Your employees don't typically wake up one morning and think "today's a good day to grow an ironclad work ethic". Your organization does have the power to facilitate this skill via your corporate eLearning program, however. As a matter of fact, these 7 tips can help you prevent procrastination and promote productivity in your corporate eLearning strategy.

1. Develop a professional and communicative corporate learning culture. 
   To facilitate a strong work ethic your organization has to set a prime example, which comes in the form of a corporate learning culture. You also need to keep the lines of communication open between every member of your team, including the employees and upper management. Create a guideline that features key contact information, including social media and email links. You should also create an online forum where your employees can ask questions, share productivity-boosting tips, and address any concerns they may have. It’s all about making them like they are an integral part of an online learning community of likeminded professionals.
2. Encourage employees to evaluate their work habits.
   In some cases, employees may not even realize that their work ethic is lacking. This often occurs with staff members who have been with the organization for quite some time and have landed in a professional “rut”. So, encourage all of your employees to evaluate their work habits by providing diagnostic assessments. Create branching scenarios that identify skill gaps and offer them supplemental online training materials that they can access on their own. This gives them the ability to carefully analyze all aspects of their work ethic and pinpoint areas for improvement.
3. Set a timeline for each corporate eLearning goal.
   One of the most crucial secondary skills linked to work ethic is time management. Employees must be able to make the most of their time in the workplace and stay on task in order to be truly productive on-the-job. Develop a timeline for each online training goal, even if your corporate eLearning course is asynchronous, and stress the importance of sticking to it. If you are dealing with a more involved goal that involves a variety of sub-tasks, break it into smaller milestones to make the process more manageable. If a corporate learner doesn't achieve the goal, encourage them to reflect on their approach and figure out how they can improve their time management skills moving forward. This will also help determine if they have a problem with procrastination, which is one of the most notable foes of a strong work ethic.
4. Use branching scenarios and online training simulations to identify performance gap.
   Performance gaps can prevent your employees from developing a strong work ethic, particularly when they become hurdles that are difficult to overcome. This leads to frustration and stress, and may prompt the employee to simply give up after several failed attempts. Branching scenarios and online training simulations can help them identify performance and skill gaps that are holding them back, as well as discover their strengths and weaknesses. These eLearning activities also have the capacity to streamline their work process and improve performance behaviors. For example, an employee may not even know that there is more than one way to approach a task. An online training simulation can show them all of the possible strategies that they can use, especially those that can save time and boost productivity.
5. Hold online training events that enforce punctuality.
   Certain members of your workforce may have an issue with punctuality. They show up to meetings late or always seem distracted and pressed for time. This is why it's wise to hold regular online training events that enforce punctuality and stick to a strict schedule. Employees who are late or do not actively participate won't get the full benefit from the online training session. Follow up with these individuals and offer them supplemental online resources for managing their time more effectively, such as articles, eLearning videos, and tutorials that offer useful tips.
6. Develop personalized online training paths.
   Employees are more dedicated to the corporate eLearning process when they set their own goals and choose their own online training activities. Create a personalized online training path for each staff member and encourage them to plan ahead. For example, ask them to develop a detailed road map that highlights the online training materials they'll use, and when they'll complete each online training course. This also allows your corporate learners to set priorities and take the initiative.
7. Provide regular and consistent eLearning feedback.
   Corporate learners may not be aware of the fact that they are struggling in some areas, which is  why eLearning feedback is essential. You need to provide your staff with regular, consistent, and constructive input that facilitates their professional growth. Ultimately, they are the ones who will have to take action, but your eLearning feedback can serve as a guideline they can follow. Make sure that your constructive criticism is personalized and immediate, so that they have the opportunity to correct performance behaviors before they turn into habits.

A strong work ethic has a direct impact on every aspect of your organization, from employee productivity to the health of your bottom line. Fortunately, you can use these 7 tips to promote this vital skill in your corporate eLearning program, regardless of your corporate eLearning budget.

One of the most effective ways to cultivate a strong work ethic is to identify the needs of your corporate learners by helping them develop their soft skills. Read the article 4 Tips To Develop Soft Skill Courses For Corporate eLearning which hightlights the top 4 skill sets that corporate learners need to develop in the modern workplace.