How Does Personalized Learning Support New Talent?
Every 15 years or so, a new generation of employees enters the workplace. But where in previous years younger employees would adapt to the habits and modus operandi of the older ones, now the tables have turned. The latest generation that entered the labor market, i.e., Gen Z, is not conforming to the old ways but drastically changing them. To keep up with them and adapt to their needs, forward-thinking organizations are employing personalized learning. But this is far from a trend with no real purpose. In this article, you will discover 6 benefits of personalized learning that will convince you to implement it in your business sooner rather than later.
6 Benefits Of Personalized Learning Your Organization Needs
1. Saves Time
Are you ready to stop wasting resources on training programs that bore your employees and add no value to their performance? There's no doubt that developing a customized learning experience for your staff can be time-consuming, but the long-term outcomes will undoubtedly reward you. Personalized learning utilizes the unique interests and learning preferences of your employees to create learning material that instantly captivates their interest. This way, employees grasp new concepts and complete training programs faster. Moreover, personalized learning directs the right modules to each trainee so that they don't waste time training on skills they already possess.
2. Promotes Ownership And Autonomy
Another crucial benefit of implementing personalized training is that it makes employees feel empowered. Where before they would receive cookie-cutter training programs they were obligated to complete, now they get to use their voices and take control of the learning process. Specifically, they're free to express their preferences in regard to the form of the training material, learning styles, communication methods, pacing, and so on. This unprecedented freedom not only drives engagement but also guarantees better learning results, as it cultivates accountability among employees. In other words, when given the autonomy to shape their learning path, employees naturally take ownership of their progress and success.
3. Increases Employee Engagement
Personalized learning allows employees to curate training paths that are relevant to their interests, current positions and accompanying issues, as well as the goals they have for the future. Learning with a purpose, as opposed to out of obligation, results in learning that is valuable and highly engaging. Employees realize that the training they're undergoing is going to benefit their professional development and journey within your organization and, therefore, feel much more motivated to complete it and even search for additional skills they could improve. Moreover, engaged and motivated employees perform better, as they are less likely to become disengaged or distracted.
4. Boosts Productivity
Speaking of elevated performance levels, a proven benefit of personalized learning programs is that they make employees more productive. The reason behind this is quite simple. When you take the time to understand each employee's unique needs, gaps, and preferences, you can pinpoint real problems and come up with customized solutions. For example, instead of having an entire department take an extensive training program, you can match each module with the employees that would truly benefit from it. This way, your employees make essential improvements that match their roles and help them become more efficient.
5. Adapts To Learner Needs
Flexibility is the one benefit of personalized learning that makes it most desirable to younger employees. Gen Z is not accustomed to the typical eight-hour office workday. They could be working remotely, intermittently, or while commuting. Therefore, the right training program will have to adjust to their schedule and offer modules of shorter and longer duration to accommodate their preferences. Personalized learning achieves that while also allowing employees to learn independently and at their own pace. This way, they don't have to rush the process and miss essential information or drag it out and end up getting disengaged.
6. Improves Knowledge Retention And Implementation
Generation Z employees have grown up in a world of personalized experiences, which is why personalized learning is the best choice for them. Being able to create a learning experience that specifically caters to your knowledge gaps significantly increases completion rates. In addition, since the employee is being trained using their preferred learning style, knowledge retention becomes more effective and long-lasting. Besides, personalized learning programs often include experiential learning activities that allow employees to practice their skills in an environment that almost perfectly simulates real-world situations.
Conclusion
The new generation of employees calls for customization in the workplace. If you want to attract new talent while also keeping your existing employees satisfied, it's time to leave one-fits-all approaches in the past. Personalized learning elevates corporate training by focusing on the learner and shaping the process around their needs and preferences. Hopefully, the benefits of personalized learning that we described in this article have helped you realize why it is an investment worth making.
