Business has taken a devastating hit in the last few years, with the economic crises taking its toll with the record number of foreclosures, bankruptcies and bailouts. Corporate culture has been forced to change to adapt to the emerging new ways of conducting business. Gone are the days of doodling through a PowerPoint while sipping coffee and noshing on pastries. The lean times have made the new landscape shrewder and more competitive, which means the implementation of new technologies is on the rise and the training to use them is just as exciting. Many businesses are realizing that the old training methods just don’t work anymore.

Trim the Fat

professional business women with arms folded across chest standing in front of computers

Remember, this is training, not torture. The usual training scenario required employees to spend 8-hour days learning new software or systems; not only does that detract from the time these people could be working, but it is also mind-numbing and ineffective. People simply don’t have the time anymore for all-day trainings with hour long introductions.

We have already adopted the “Quick Start” technique when it comes to home electronics, software, and appliances, even cars. Save the thick manuals and guides for when you really need them to reference specific problems or requirements. No one ever needs to know all the information that is printed in the owners’ manual. But when you do need it, you know where to find it.

Distill the trainings down to short lessons that focus on the important information. Follow-up can be done on an individual, as-needed basis with the use of online tools and interactive networking.

Watch It!

Increasing numbers of people use outlets like YouTube or Instructables to learn how to tackle simple, yet maybe uncommon, household tasks and do-it-yourself projects. Corporate training shouldn’t be any different.

Putting training content in a more appealing multimedia package with fast moving content, quick edits, high quality video and effects will keep employees’ attentions and boost retention as well. Imagine getting your training done in an hour while watching an entertaining, attention retaining film. This use of visual learning sentences can get more information across and provide higher levels of retention all while reducing the training time and keeping the employees from boredom. Your team may actually start to look forward to their trainings.

Game On!

We’ve all seen the line of gamers hugging the wall outside the local video game outlet waiting for the doors to open so they can get their hands on the newest video game. We can learn from them. It’s the fundamental mindset of scoring and competing that is already in all of us that drives a gamer to play “just one more time.” The gamification of trainings uses the same principles. Competition between each other and competition with one’s self. Gamification turns boring old learning into a source of pride and accomplishment. Employees are challenging themselves to improve and having a great time doing it.

Keep it Real

Yes, all this technology is exciting and time saving and financially beneficial but don’t forget the human element. The guidance of a live instructor and human help during follow-ups is invaluable. We are trying to improve the performance of staff and eliminate waste, one of the benefits of this should be the extra time and resources to strengthen the bonds we have and create new ones. Empathy is a human trait that is necessary in the learning process. After all, what is technology without us humans?

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