9 Effective Tips for Remote Employee Training
The still ongoing pandemic has forced businesses to deal with multiple challenges in terms of operations, profitability, as well as employee onboarding and training. The last one is especially a concern since many organizations are following the remote working model and aren’t likely to shift from that soon. Which means, their employees are working from different locations or are geographically distributed. And that means, training them via traditional in-office lectures is not a solution. Also, to hire new employees remotely, companies need to be innovative. This is where new-age and digital employee onboarding training platforms can help.
Properly trained employees are not only productive for the organization, but also happier. So, it is important to thoughtfully consider the material that needs to be taught and the method to be used for the same.
Training plays a crucial role in employee onboarding as well as employee retention. When new employees join an organization, they hardly know about the different teams, work culture, and various nuances of how you operate. Which is why, authorities need to make them aware of the actionable procedures to help them hit the ground running. Even your existing employees need upskilling and refreshment training from time to time. In either situation, you need to have effective employee training solutions in place to keep your workforce up to date.
Here are some effective training solutions for employees that can come in handy:
Concentrate on remote training content Content is the heart of any learning and training solution. Suppose you prepare the content for a learning solution without analyzing its purpose in-depth. In that case, it may lack relevance, and the inappropriate content may not justify the objective of a training solution. To have appropriate and relevant content, you need 'training need analysis' and a proper selection of content to address those concerns. It is always wise to be prepared with a remote training infrastructure to deal with an unfavorable situation like a natural disaster, pandemic, etc., when remote working becomes the only solution for business continuity.
Offer remote onboarding In response to a global pandemic or a dynamic shift in company culture, remote working has become crucial for most businesses to survive and thrive. As a result, virtual learning and remote onboarding have become popular. In the current situation, when in-person training or face-to-face interaction with new hires is next to impossible, remote employee onboarding training is the only way to introduce your new hires to your organization and familiarize them with the working environment and processes. High quality video conferencing is one of the effective ways to onboard your new employees. Different video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet can be used as an employee training platform. Instead of a phone call or voice chat, these audio-visual training solutions are more effective. Video conferencing facility helps Human Resource managers to provide clear lines of communication to the new employees. It also makes employees feel valued and supported.
Respect their time Working from home is not like working from the office. At home, it might be difficult for employees to juggle work with familial responsibilities, despite different distractions. This means, you need to be reasonable, respect an employee’s time, and provide employee training programs with maximum benefits. Efficient training solutions are precise and on-demand. So, if employee training programs can be delivered in an effective format like a bullet-pointed note or flashcard, etc., employees can learn fast and easily.
Leverage technology To train your remote employees, eLearning courses are the best bet. Employees can access the learning programs virtually, through computers, tablets, or smartphones. eLearning courses allow employees to learn anytime, from anywhere, and gain knowledge at their own pace. Online training programs provide employers access to reusable learning resources that ensure uniformity throughout their training. With the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, you can design training programs like computer-based training (CBT), simulators, roleplaying, films and videos, quizzes, games, and so on. Being interactive in nature, online training solutions are more effective in grabbing an employee’s attention and can increase the course completion rate.
Create on-demand training programs When it comes to training a distributed workforce, on-demand, just-in-time training is the key to success. That is because everyone may not be working at the same time. So, it has become essential to offer on-demand training programs to employees, which allows them to access the training material when they need it.
Make mobile-first courses As smartphones are the handiest of devices these days, on-demand training solutions for employees should be developed with a mobile-first approach. In other words, mobile learning apps are the most suitable option for employee training and corporate learning. You need to design mobile-first courses to allow people to access learning content anytime and anywhere.
Develop small bites of information To make your on-demand, mobile-first courses effective for remote learners, focus on developing quick and small bites of information. You can provide effective training solutions by using different microlearning or bite-sized learning methods. This can help remote employees to digest relevant information fast and retain the same.
Track the training For effective employee training solutions, a solid learning management system can be super helpful. It will allow you to keep track of the course completion status of every employee. This is vital for courses that come with certifications and licensing processes. The tracking process will also help you keep your training programs consistent and seamless. You can track the overall status of employees who have already completed the remote training program and those who need to take up the course.
Create a culture of remote work To make the training of new employees effective, you need to build a supportive work culture. When it comes to remote working, trusting your employees is crucial as they will feel respected, appreciated and understood. You need to define the remote work culture of your company well, so that every employee knows what is expected of them, how they can collaborate or reach out for help, and how they can convey problems.
Conclusion
Since the pandemic is still raging, remote working will be the reality for many organizations at least for some time. Hence, online employee training solutions and learning management systems are the way to go. This way, learners can access self-paced training programs anytime and from anywhere. Running your business with a remote and distributed workforce is feasible if you can develop appropriate virtual learning programs to onboard new hires, upskill existing employees, and introduce new concepts.
So, choose Oust Labs, a leading provider of micro-learning solutions, to make your remote employee training method more robust, affordable and effective. Keep your employees engaged and updated about the latest practices in your industry, the easy way. For more information, connect with our experts today!