Whether you’re welcoming a new employee or upskilling a current team member, the learning journey should feel like an exciting opportunity, not a tedious series of lectures.
Unfortunately, too many businesses rely on extended PowerPoint marathons, long meetings and redundant informational overflows.
With the emergence of dynamic and interactive technologies, there’s a golden opportunity to rejuvenate training and onboarding to make it more effective - for both the business and the employee!
Here are seven ways to wave goodbye to stale slide shows and say hello to impactful forms of learning…
Interactive workshops are all about getting hands-on. Ditching the age-old lecture method, these workshops make training lively and memorable.
When employees are involved in active learning, they not only understand concepts better but are also more likely to remember them.
Think about it: acting out a scenario or working on a team challenge is much more memorable than simply hearing about it.
Start with identifying key areas or skills you want to cover. Then, design activities around them.
Roleplaying is an easy pick. Want to train in customer service? Have employees act out customer interactions. Need to upskill some negotiation skills? Create a practice scenario.
To foster team morale and problem-solving, design team-based challenges. Maybe it’s a mock project or a fun game that requires collaboration.
You don’t need a big budget – just creativity and a clear focus on the skills you’re looking to enhance. Remember, the goal is to learn by doing!
Ever wondered why we’re hooked to those 5-minute cooking videos or quick DIY tutorials on YouTube and TikTok?
It’s simple: short training videos pack a punch. They hold attention, convey information quickly, and tend to be memorable.
In a world of dwindling attention spans, bite-sized video content can be a game-changer for training and onboarding.
Start by identifying the key points you want to convey. Less is more; keep it concise.
Use a mix of visuals – graphics, real-life clips, and animations – to make it more appealing. Consider adding captions for those who might watch without sound or be hard of hearing.
Once done, share them on a common platform that employees can access anytime. Don’t forget to ask for feedback so you know it’s working!
Mentorship is like giving your employees a compass in the vast world of career growth.
It provides a personalised touch to training, making sure that every individual gets the right guidance tailored to their needs.
Through one-on-one sessions, employees can gain insights into seasoned professionals, ask questions, and get feedback in real-time.
Start by pairing up new hires or less experienced team members with veterans within your business.
Set clear expectations: mentors should be available for regular check-ins, while mentees should come prepared with questions or topics they want to explore.
Encourage a two-way feedback mechanism, where both parties discuss successes and areas for improvement.
To make things even smoother, set aside dedicated mentorship hours each month, allowing teams to focus on these valuable sessions without the pressures of other tasks. The strength of mentorship lies in its personal touch and continuous dialogue.
Nothing beats hands-on experience. On-the-job training allows employees to dive right into their roles, turning theory into practice.
The advantages? Immediate feedback and acquiring skills that perfectly align with the job at hand.
Plus, it’s a confidence booster – effectively handling tasks builds self-esteem and job satisfaction.
First, map out the essential tasks for each role. For a new hire, break these tasks down into manageable chunks.
Assign a team member or a supervisor to guide the new employee during their initial tasks, ensuring they’re on the right track. As they work, the guide can offer insights, tips, and corrections on the go.
Celebrate new milestones and always maintain an open-door policy for questions. After all, the goal is to foster an environment where learning never stops.
We’ve all been there – sitting through a meeting, nodding along, but not really connecting. So what if we made it two-way?
Group discussions promote open dialogue, making training feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation.
It’s real, relatable, and allows everyone to share their experiences. Plus, nothing builds team bonds better than shared experiences.
Ditch the formal setting once in a while. Host roundtable chats where everyone, new or experienced, gets a say.
Start with open-ended questions related to the topic. Maybe share an incident and ask, “How would you handle this?”
Have a moderator to keep things on track and make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
Think back to your first day on the job, buried under a mountain of onboarding tasks.
Overwhelming, right? Digital onboarding kits simplify that.
Online resources, guides, and welcome packets streamline information, making it accessible anytime and anywhere. Plus, think of all the trees you’re saving!
Start with essentials: an interactive company guide, FAQs, and a fun welcome video.
Use tools like Google Drive or Dropbox to create shared folders, ensuring new hires can easily find what they need. Consider adding some interactive elements like quizzes on company culture.
This is not about ditching face-to-face training and interaction. It’s about complementing it.
Give your new hires (and current employees) the flexibility to revisit these materials at their own pace.
Ever been part of an amazing project experience where everyone brought something unique to the table?
By having teams tackle projects together, individual employees benefit from shared knowledge and diverse perspectives.
The cherry on top? Peer feedback. It provides a fresh lens, driving continuous improvement and pushing everyone to up their game.
Kick things off with a team-based project. It could be as simple as brainstorming new marketing strategies or as complex as product development.
Encourage open dialogue throughout the process. Once done, have each team member review their peers’ contributions.
Keep it constructive! Tools like Google Forms can simplify feedback collection, and feedback submissions should be anonymous.
As an added bonus, this approach promotes camaraderie, fostering a positive work environment where everyone thrives and encourages one another.
In today’s fast-paced world, the traditional ways of onboarding and training need an upgrade.
Elevating your team means tailoring approaches that align with your unique business culture. One size doesn’t fit all, and businesses should be agile, adapting methods as they grow.
It’s essential to encourage feedback from fresh eyes – the new hires – to ensure the training process remains effective and engaging.
Looking to transform your training experience even further? All In Creative offers top-tier video production on the Sunshine Coast to make your onboarding and team training not just effective, but exceptional.
Let our experts help you craft a training video that truly resonates with your team. Stop presenting the same annual training or new recruit onboarding over and over, and put it in a training video!
Our team can come to your business, or you can come and make the most of our Sunshine Coast studio space with all the lights, cameras and equipment you need to make your business shine!
