How To Implement A Positive Learning Culture
Corporate online training has become the new norm for many organizations, and it has been proven to help bridge many skill gaps, improve businesses' operations, lower costs, and increase revenue. About 42% of companies that employ online training generate more income, which shows how vital they can be to the success of a business. But there is one factor that is key to the success of any corporate online training—a positive learning culture.
A positive learning culture supports independent learning and development, encourages team members to identify focus skills and learn for current and future roles, and fosters a growth mindset and desire to learn and improve throughout the organization. According to Jim Pendergast, Senior Vice President of altLINE Sobanco, "Companies that promote a positive learning culture are laying the groundwork for sustainable success because it fosters innovation, employee engagement and retention, and many other important elements of an organization."
Incorporating a positive learning culture into your corporate online training is a sure recipe for the success of your business. In this article, we'll walk you through what positive learning culture is, its importance, and the best tips and tricks for encouraging one for your corporate online training.
What Is A Positive Learning Culture?
A positive learning culture emphasizes and prioritizes individual development, upskilling and reskilling, knowledge sharing, and treats these as the organization's goals [1]. In a positive learning culture, leaders and workers have a growth mindset that helps them develop within and outside their roles. A positive learning culture is a must-have for companies that want to stay ahead of their competition. A study showed that a positive organizational learning culture improves employees' skills, knowledge, and competency, and promotes knowledge sharing [2].
Creating a positive learning culture is the most important thing you can do to drive your organization's success. The work environment is changing rapidly, and employees are looking for more purpose and growth opportunities in their workplace. It is now in the hands of businesses to deliver a learning culture that can attract, develop, and retain top talent.
The Benefits Of Creating A Positive Learning Culture
There's no doubt that the impact of creating a strong learning culture cuts across the entire organization, from increased employee loyalty and retention to better performance and profitability. Here are a few reasons why a positive learning culture should be fundamental to every organization's structure:
1. Better Employee Performance
When a positive learning culture is instilled in team members, they develop a growth mindset and pursue opportunities to learn and improve their skills, ultimately translating into better employee performance, more productivity, and organizational success.
2. Attract Top Talent
These days, the best talent in every industry consider many factors before choosing a company to work with—one of which is a positive learning culture. This is a strong magnet for highly skilled candidates searching for organizations that provide learning and professional development opportunities. During the recruitment process, it should be evident to potential candidates that the company is dedicated to upholding a strong learning culture, and will offer full support and encourage employees to pursue professional development opportunities.
3. Boosts Employee Engagement
Culture is a key to keeping employees engaged in the workplace. A study showed that organizations that foster a learning culture have up to 50% higher engagement rates [3]. When employees are engaged, it creates an overall positive work environment. According to Logan Mallory, VP of Motivosity, "Promoting a positive learning culture is a proven method of motivating employees to develop and grow, thereby increasing employee engagement. When employees are engaged, they produce better results and boost your company's success."
Top 4 Tips For Corporate Online Training
Now that we've seen how influential a positive learning culture can be in an organization, the next step is to look at the best ways to create and promote it.
1. Make Learning Fun
Without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to promote a positive learning culture is by adding the element of fun! Having fun when learning is enjoyable and beneficial to employees, as they can learn the skills needed to do their work more efficiently. According to Brian Nagele, CEO of Restaurant Clicks, "Incorporating the right amount of fun into your corporate online training promotes informal learning, which is a great way to boost employee creativity, engagement, and retention."
2. Create Personalized Learning Plans
There are not many ways of improving employee engagement and retention of learning resources that are better than creating personalized learning plans [4]. With customized learning plans, the content is relevant to each individual and focuses on their needs and interests, promoting a positive learning culture. You mustn't employ a one-size-fits-all approach. Adapting the training program to each employee's unique learning style improves their overall experience and helps them learn new skills faster.
3. Encourage Employees To Share Their Knowledge
Knowledge sharing among employees helps them connect, perform better, and improve as professionals. This helps to build a community and a positive learning culture within your organization. Businesses encouraging knowledge sharing among employees are more agile and adaptable and see more success overall [5]. According to Deepti Manchanda, HR Head and Business Partner at Classic Informatics: "Organizations need to break down silos within their system to imbibe a culture of positive learning. Be it hierarchical or knowledge-based, any organization seeking to foster learning culture should break down silos and bring everyone together to share their expertise. Employees holding knowledge could be one of the biggest roadblocks in this. Every organization holds within its team Subject Matter Experts who should be encouraged and empowered to come forward and share their expertise."
4. Reward Employees For Their Achievements
Learning is a continuous process, and when it is rewarded, it motivates individuals to go the extra mile to prioritize it. Rewarding employees motivates them to continue to learn, develop, and grow. According to Jesse Galanis, Content Manager of Switching2Mac, "Employees want recognition and rewards for the time and effort they have invested in learning. Rewarding employees for accepting a positive learning culture will encourage the rewarded individuals to do more and motivate other employees." Rewarding your employees for their achievements can build healthy competition, which will further translate into organizational success. Businesses that practice innovative employee reward and recognition tactics will promote a strong learning culture, resulting in increased employee efficiency and productivity.
References:
[1] Top Training Automation Strategies For Upskilling And Reskilling Programs
[3] WHY A STRONG LEARNING CULTURE IS VITAL FOR ENGAGEMENT
[4] How To Launch Personalized Corporate Learning Plans That Surpass Modern Learners’ Expectations
[5] Knowing Is Growing: How To Build A Knowledge-Sharing Culture In Your Company
