Compliance Tracking Or Employee Engagement? 5 Tips Towards A Holistic Approach To Your Corporate LMS

Compliance Tracking Or Employee Engagement? 5 Tips Towards A Holistic Approach To Your Corporate LMS
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Summary: Which is more important for online training success: Big Data or human experience? In this article, I’ll highlight the importance of using your corporate Learning Management System for both compliance tracking and employee engagement.

Taking A Holistic Approach To Your Corporate LMS To Balance Compliance Tracking And Employee Engagement

You must ensure that your employees get the online training resources they need to comply with industry regulations and company policy. But there’s also the challenge of keeping corporate learners actively engaged and enthusiastic about ongoing development. Unfortunately, there’s only so much time and online training resources to go around. So, the question is: Which aspect of your corporate LMS deserves your undivided attention?

Is Compliance Tracking The Top Priority?

Compliance online training ensures that your employees are knowledgeable about company policy, regulations, and safety protocols. You must have accurate records in the event of an audit to avoid penalties. As such, monitoring compliance tracking is of paramount importance. Doing so also helps reduce workplace injuries, thanks to the fact that LMS metrics reveal gaps and patterns that warrant your attention. For example, a high percentage of employees are unable to pass the OSHA exam or show a general lack of understanding or skills during the safety online training simulation.

The Argument For Employee Engagement

Online training requires an employee’s full attention. Especially compliance online training courses that involve dull subject matters, but are nonetheless mandatory. LMS metrics can help you identify aspects of your online training strategy that may not be up to par. For example, they don’t cater to employees’ learning preferences, or lack interactive elements that can help corporate learners connect with the online training content. As such, your corporate LMS must be able to improve employee engagement by deploying up-to-date online training resources that are relevant and immersive. But does that mean compliance tracking should be lower on your list of priorities when looking for a new corporate LMS?

5 Tips To Take A Holistic Approach To Your Corporate LMS

The truth is that both aspects of a corporate LMS are vital to your business operations. It’s a cyclical process that involves ongoing monitoring to improve employee engagement and achieve the desired results. Here are a few tips to take a more holistic online training approach with the help of your corporate LMS.

1. Purpose Is Just As Important As Proof

It’s true, you need to have proof that employees are in compliance and receive all the online training required. But there’s more to it than that. As a matter of fact, the purpose behind online training is what really counts, which is generally to build professional knowledge, develop skills, and reinforce favorable performance behaviors. It’s important to document the online training progress and monitor compliance gaps. However, your primary goal is to achieve the desired outcomes and learning objectives so that everyone benefits from the online training program. Not to merely cover all your bases in the event of audit.

2. Use LMS Data To Personalize Online Training Resources

Tracking gives you the insights to personalize online training, which is why these two corporate LMS components go hand in hand. For example, employee performance reports reveal a pattern that you can use to improve online training content to align with employees’ needs. For this reason, it’s essential to look for a system that offers advanced reporting features, such as data visualizations which help your L&D team detect trends that lead to meaningful change. They can develop and deploy new and improved online training resources that facilitate employee engagement. Then the cycle begins again, with tracking tools to monitor the new online training content and its overall effectiveness.

3. Incorporate Certifications To Monitor And Motivate

Many corporate Learning Management Systems feature built-in certification support. You’re able to use these online training certificates to track employee performance and give them a new source of motivation. Better still, intrinsic motivation that encourages them to reach their full potential and comply with policies and regulations. Create a separate certification for every skill, task, or compliance topic so that employees can track their own progress more effectively. This also aids your tracking efforts, as you’re able to quickly spot employees who are falling behind and intervene. For instance, LMS reports disclose that a member of your customer service team still needs to complete 3 mandatory certifications.

4. Customize LMS Metrics To Track Learner-Centered Online Training Initiatives

Many corporate Learning Management Systems have customizable reporting capabilities. You have the option to focus on LMS metrics that matter most to your organization and track employee development. For example, informal online training activities that cannot be tracked by traditional LMSs because they occur outside the platform. As a result, you can track learner-centered online training initiatives to improve employee engagement. Survey results can also be uploaded to your corporate LMS to gather direct feedback from your employees. Then compile the data to reveal online training strengths and weaknesses.

5. Automate Feedback Based On Employee Performance

Some modern LMS platforms feature automation that allows you to deliver targeted feedback and recommendations. Your corporate LMS uses metrics and other indicators to point employees in the right direction. For example, their favorable performance on an online training simulation gives them the ability to skip the next online training module. Thus, they aren’t bored by online training content they’re already familiar with and remain fully engaged in the online training experience. In addition, this eliminates general feedback that lacks a personal touch. Employees can identify exactly where they went wrong and what they can do to fix the problem. If they require further clarification, they can always tap into peer-based online training resources or follow up with online instructors or facilitators.

When it comes to the epic battle of compliance vs. engagement, there’s no clear winner. In fact, both are equally important for the success of your online training program. Keeping employees engaged ensures that they acquire the knowledge and skills they need to comply. Effective online training is more than meeting requirements and checking boxes. It requires a holistic approach that personalizes the online training experience for everyone involved and provides them with the targeted online training resources they require. Compliance tracking data allows you to identify those areas for improvement and create more relevant online training resources.

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