Transform Traditional Training Failures
Continuous Learning and Development (L&D) is paramount in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Yet, traditional in-person training methods are increasingly proving to be ineffective, requiring companies to rethink corporate learning.
Why Your Corporate Learning Fails And How To Fix It
With poor retention rates, irrelevant content, and inconvenient timing, conventional approaches fail to meet modern employees' needs. It's time for organizations to rethink corporate learning and move beyond outdated in-person training to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI)-supported eLearning solutions that incorporate quizzes and interactive elements.
The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.
- Eric Ries
In today's fast-paced environment, this phrase from Eric Ries captures the core of competitive advantage. The capacity to adapt and take in information is fast turning into a necessary skill for success in a world where innovation and continuous change are critical. Whether in business or outside of it, learning is valued highly and viewed as a lifetime path to prosper in a demanding and challenging environment.
The Inefficiency Of Traditional Training
Despite significant investments—L&D companies will spend $383 billion worldwide in 2023—the return on these investments could be better. 75% of managers are unhappy with the L&D role at their company, and 70% of employees think they need to gain the skills they need to do their jobs well. Even worse, only 12% of employees use the new skills they learned at work, and only 25% think that training does make them better at their jobs, says the Gartner Report. These numbers show we need to rethink corporate learning and find a better way to train our employees immediately.
What Needs To Change
Organizations and individuals must be agile learners to succeed in today's fast-paced corporate environment. Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired, advises embracing beginner mode, asking silly questions, making mistakes, and sharing what you learn. The goal of agile learning is:
- Get right to the point of what you need to know.
- Use it right away in real-life events.
- Get comments right away and improving your understanding.
- Keep the cycle going.
Just as agile projects and start-ups did before, lean learning helps companies remain flexible and gain a competitive edge in the market.
Implementing Lean Learning Strategies
Introduce DiSSS
Tim Ferriss promotes a lean learning method called DiSSS (deconstruction, selection, sequencing, and stakes). Find the minimum learnable unit (MLU) and use the Pareto principle. To learn Japanese, focus on the 20% of words and phrases that appear 80% of the time. As often as needed, practice what you learn in Japanese conversations.
Apply The Learning To Real-World Situations
We first ensure that the learners can apply the methodology internally, and we request that they bring real-world projects to workshops so that we can use what’s learned in real time, shorten the feedback loop, deliver business outcomes, and encourage "aha" moments.
Leverage Guided Learning
Rather than provide training at specific intervals, guided learning embeds continuous learning into a live application. Think of screen pop-ups as you go that support rapid, context-sensitive, and personalized learning. This applies to functional leads, employee onboarding, cross-functional teams, IT, and end-user training.
Customize Content
Utilize current technologies to personalize training by adjusting lessons according to individual employee performance, tailoring content to each employee's unique needs, learning style, and preferred delivery method.
Provide Ongoing Support
After a learning session, provide employees with further support via instant messaging, discussion boards, and chatbots so that they can apply what they learned to specific challenges. This ongoing support helps reinforce learning and increase retention.
Peer Learning
55% of your employees ask a co-worker to learn a new skill before using Google or your LMS. Peer learning improves employee knowledge and speeds up just-in-time learning when humans learn while teaching. Establishing an online marketplace or periodic peer learning sessions could easily connect employees who want to impart skills with colleagues who want to know them. Performance assessments that encourage peer learning engage personnel.
Provide Micro-Courses
These are short, focused training sessions that can be completed quickly. Concentrated training sessions can be completed in a short amount of time and can cover specific topics in depth.
Abandoning Old Methods For New Outcomes
The saying "doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different outcomes" is particularly relevant in Learning and Development. Continuously relying on outdated training methods, such as repetitive in-person sessions, while hoping for improved outcomes is futile. L&D must acknowledge the need for innovation and adaptation in today's rapidly changing business landscape and rethink corporate learning. Organizations must break free from traditional methods and embrace transformative approaches, such as AI-supported eLearning, to drive progress and facilitate meaningful growth among employees. By challenging the status quo and exploring new avenues for learning, companies can unlock the full potential of their workforce and stay ahead in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Benefits Of eLearning Using Modern Tools
eLearning, leveraging modern technologies, offers a powerful alternative to traditional in-person training. Here are several key benefits:
Personalization
Advanced algorithms tailor content to individual learning styles and needs, ensuring employees receive the most relevant information. This personalized approach increases engagement and effectiveness.
Flexibility
eLearning allows employees to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. This flexibility surpasses the rigid schedules of in-person training sessions, making it easier for employees to fit learning into their busy lives.
Interactive Elements
Quizzes and real-time feedback loops reinforce knowledge and promote better retention. These interactive components make learning more engaging and enjoyable. With modern AI technologies, incorporating interactive elements into your learning videos is now easy and fast.
Immediate Application
Lean learning principles emphasize applying new knowledge to real-world situations immediately. Modern eLearning tools facilitate this by providing on-the-job learning opportunities and just-in-time training.
Cost-Effectiveness
Digital learning solutions often reduce travel, accommodation, and venue hire costs for in-person training sessions. They also allow for the scalability of training programs without incurring significant incremental costs.
Conclusion
Moving from traditional in-person training to AI-supported eLearning represents a fundamental transformation in organizational approaches to employee development, offering. By embracing these innovative solutions, companies can ensure that their training programs are more effective, relevant, and aligned with the dynamic needs of their workforce. Per Eric's quote, this has never been truer than it is today. Embrace modern technologies and AI-supported eLearning to prepare your organization for future success.