How To Get Your Managers Actively Involved In Onboarding Online Training
Do your managers stand behind your onboarding online training program? Are they ready to welcome new hires and offer them ongoing support? Managers should be enthused and excited about the online training experience in order to help new talent reach their potential. They must also have the support resources they require to lead their subordinates to success. Here are 8 tips to actively involve your managers in onboarding online training.
1. Schedule A "Welcome" Webinar
Give new hires a warm welcome by scheduling a live event with their management team. Send out e-vites in advance so that everyone can make room in their schedule and record the session for those who are unable to attend. The event gives new employees the chance to ask questions and to get to know their team leaders, supervisors, and department heads. Webinars are also a great opportunity to meet their co-workers and start building a network of peer-based online training resources, which is particularly useful for geographically dispersed employees.
2. Create A Social Media Group
Social media groups give new hires the ability to collaborate with their co-workers and team leaders. Managers also have the power to post important updates and tips during and long after the onboarding process. In fact, social media serves as an ongoing source of support and motivation throughout the employee's career. Encourage managers to set up their own social media groups or pages based on common goals, interests, or job positions. For example, they may want to start a separate group for customer service new hires who want to build their interpersonal skills.
3. Start A Q&A eLearning Forum
Invite new hires to post their questions and concerns on the eLearning forum. Then invite managers to provide answers during a Q&A event. You can also create an ongoing list of questions that relevant managers can address on a regular basis. For example, the HR manager will address hiring and company policy questions once a week. These eLearning forums serve as a great reference for new hires who may need knowledge refreshers. They can always turn to specific Q&A threads during their moment of need.
4. Encourage Managers To Become Mentors
One of the most interactive and engaging ways to involve managers is to turn them into mentors. Start a mentorship online training program that pairs experienced leaders with new hires. You can also assign teams if there are larger groups of employees who will benefit from mentorships. Encourage mentors to set up online training contracts or guidelines with their mentees to clarify expectations. For example, what goals they hope to achieve, how often they'll communicate, and which online training resources are available.
5. Develop A Microlearning Library
Managers need microlearning support resources as well. These bite-sized online training tutorials, videos, and demos give them the power to develop their skills and knowledge. This pertains to their personal work responsibilities and their managerial duties. For example, one section of the microlearning library is devoted to leadership or teambuilding skills, while another focuses on work-related tasks they need to know in order to boost on-the-job performance. You can't expect your managers to offer support and guidance to their subordinates if they lack the necessary tools. A microlearning online training repository provides them with the online training resources they require to share knowledge and experience with new hires.
6. Spark Online Discussions With Onboarding Blogs
Set up an onboarding blog and then send the link to your new hires. Give managers the opportunity to guest-host the blog from time to time, or encourage them to start their own corporate eLearning blog to keep their teams informed and up to date. Each onboarding blog should focus on a specific topic or department so as to provide relevant information. For example, your customer service new hires require different tips and resources from your warehouse staff. Another way to increase engagement is to post thought-provoking questions or topics each week. This allows managers to get employee feedback and learn more about their backgrounds and past experiences.
7. Invite Managers To Create A Podcast Or Video Series
Take blogging a step further by inviting managers to start their own online training podcasts or videos. Managers can post a new episode in the series on a weekly or monthly basis. Each session can feature a new topic, task, or commonly asked question. An added benefit is that managers improve their own knowledge retention and comprehension. This is due to the fact that they have to summarize the subject matter in order to teach it. As a result, they commit the information to long-term memory. To keep things organized, ask managers to create a posting schedule that maps out future topics and air dates. Then you can ensure there's a good variety of online training content for your new hires.
8. Ask For Manager Input Every Step Of The Way
Managers need to know that their opinion matters and that you respect their input. As such, you should involve your managers every step of the way. Ask for their feedback during the design and development process. Then periodically conduct surveys and interviews to continually improve your onboarding online training strategy. Managers are more likely to get actively involved if they know that their feedback counts. So, be sure to use their input to create a plan of action and bridge the online training gaps.
Managers are key players in a thriving corporate eLearning culture. They must emphasize the benefits of active participation so as to motivate your remote workforce. Team leaders should also be ready and willing to focus on their professional development. After all, employees are more likely to engage when managers set a good example.
Are you ready to add fun and excitement to your onboarding online training course? Read the article 7 Tips To Use Serious Games In Onboarding Online Training to discover 7 top tips on how to use serious games in onboarding online training.
