The Traits Of A Supportive Online Learning Organization
You may have heard growth opportunities are the best path to career satisfaction. When employees feel like they’re learning something new, they enjoy their jobs more. They feel it’s making them better, that their efforts are valid. This is a better staff retention tool than salaries and benefits, which can always be outmatched. But how do you reassure your team about their career path? A regularly updated LMS is one way, because it offers something novel every time they log on. But how else can you show your educational support? Here are 5 traits of a supportive online learning organization.
What Do All Successful Learning Organizations Have In Common?
1. Provides Equal Opportunities
When we’re kids, our parents tell us to go to school, graduate, and get a good job. We soon realize all those years of education didn’t necessarily prepare us for the working world. There’s so much more to learn on the job. Unfortunately, not all organizations follow this principle. Good ones offer you a mentor, to hold your hand and guide you along. Superiors walk you through tough, unfamiliar tasks. In such organizations, everyone matters. Sometimes, institutions adopt open offices and flat structures in an effort to democratize the workspace. However, this isn’t a guarantee of a positive learning environment. Sometimes these "unstructured" workplaces only reinforce peer pressure and cliques. A genuine online learning organization gives everyone access to superiors. These superiors are ready to teach and train juniors. Everyone feels valued and respected, from the tea girl to the office driver.
2. Offers Continual Online Training
We’ve already established that learning doesn’t stop at school. In some work settings, training is seen as a chore. Everybody wants to get it over with, both organizers and participants. Conversely, corporations that are sincerely dedicated to educational pursuits are consistent. They don’t offer a single compliance course two weeks before licensing expires. They develop ongoing online training programs that keep corporate learners continuously engaged.
Some firms run online training workshops every month, ensuring employees are constantly improving their skill set. These online training courses are progressive, so employees feel they’re growing and advancing at work. They learn from more experienced colleagues and have opportunities to practice what they learned, teaching juniors in the process. These organizations create an effective, reliable, replicable online training loop.
3. Maintains Open Communication
In every meeting or public gathering, the facilitator will say at some point "there are no stupid questions." Unfortunately, this is often followed by a question that elicits eye rolls from peers. Work environments have people from lots of different backgrounds. Depending on how we were raised, we respond differently to laughter and ridicule. Especially in a public setting. Still, most of us will avoid participating so as not to sound "dumb." That’s why a primary trait of an online learning organization is to live by the principle of "no stupid questions." Team members should share their views, however uninformed. You should motivate them to show their ignorance because that’s the best way to learn.
These organizations focus on the long game, which benefits individuals and the corporation as a whole. They nudge colleagues to take risks, apply their training, and come up with innovative solutions every day. Employees reflect on their weaknesses, evaluate their performance and do better for the benefit of the whole team.
4. Focus On The Group And The Individual
Collaboration is a good sign, but an organization can (and should) go further. Usually, group-think is a bad thing, but this isn’t the case in an online learning organization. Basically, the perspective of the organization is that every individual should benefit and grow. Therefore, online training activities, sessions, and opportunities are geared towards mass individual development. Every member of the organization trains on their own.
Virtual courses do this well, because the firm can assess everyone’s unique needs and develop pathways just for them. This way, everyone improves at their own pace, benefitting the company as a whole. It’s a true implementation of "no one left behind" and is the extreme opposite of the typical cut-throat corporate setting. These organizations have less office politics and hardly any negative competition among colleagues.
5. Full Transparency
Employees shouldn’t feel like there’s some secretive plan or ulterior motive behind your online learning organization. You must maintain full transparency and get employees actively involved in the process. Even as early as the planning stage. Emphasize the benefits of online training for both the individual and the organization. As well as how they should engage with the content to achieve the goals. A successful and supportive learning organization is a group effort. Every member of the team must be aware that they play a vital role in the overall success. Instead of feeling like they’re just along for the ride and that their HR managers will implement online training programs, regardless of their needs.
You can facilitate total transparency by hosting live online training events and social media brainstorming sessions, as well. For example, invite employees to provide feedback on the latest online training course. Or schedule a kick-off event to let them know why they should enroll in the new certification online training program and what to expect.
Conclusion
Whether they’re a fresh graduate or a career veteran, employees want to work at a growth-oriented company. It’s good for their esteem, and job satisfaction. How do they identify such organizations? Candidates look for companies who actively promote collaboration and deliver consistent, ongoing support. They look for leaders who focus on long-term goals rather than immediate sales targets. As well as online learning organizations who offer inclusive online training activities that are easily accessible and personalized.
A strong corporate eLearning culture gives your employees the tools they need to achieve their potential in a supportive environment. Namely, a workforce development LMS that's packed with JIT support resources and personalized courses. Use our exclusive directory to find the best tool for your team.
