Do you want to improve workplace productivity? Do your employees have the skills they need to tackle tasks and increase profits? In this article, I’ll explore 7 ways that online training can help you fill performance gaps in your organization.
How Online Training Can Fill In Performance Gaps
Performance gaps are the thorn in your company’s side. They hinder workplace productivity, put a wrench in task mastery, and hinder employee development. Thankfully, there are ways to get over the gaps so that your staff can achieve their true potential. In fact, effective online training can give your employees the tools and knowledge they need to build the bridge.
1. Identify Areas For Improvement
Before you can create online training activities that fill the gaps, you must identify where those gaps reside. Fortunately, online training assessments and LMS metrics can help you focus your efforts.
For example, most of your employees struggle with the task simulation that you provide at the beginning of the online training course. This tells you that they need help mastering the steps and the skills that the task requires. LMS reports and online learner data sheds light on the specific performance issues that your employees face on a regular basis. In addition, you have the ability to incorporate self-assessments into your online training course. Employees can take tests periodically to monitor their own progress and create a personalized online training plan.
2. Provide Real World Experience
Real world experience is a precious commodity. In the past, the only way to gain valuable experience was on-the-job practice. Unfortunately, this typically involved a steep learning curve and costly mistakes. Mistakes that negatively impact the organization’s profits and customer satisfaction ratings. Online training gives employees the ability to apply their knowledge in real world situations. They can participate in online training simulations, serious games and branching scenarios that mimic workplace environments. As a result, every member of your staff is able to perfect their approach and put their skills into action. These interactive online training activities allow them to focus on personal performance gaps, as well as gauge their strengths and weaknesses. If necessary, they can seek out additional online training resources to expand their understanding.
3. Target Individual Skill Gaps
One of the most notable advantages of online training is personalization. Employees are able to pick-and-choose online training materials that suit their needs and target specific gaps. For example, customer service associates can access active listening and communication simulations to improve those skill sets. Online training also has the power to improve task proficiency. Interactive online tutorials, walkthroughs, and video demos are just some of the online training techniques at your disposal. Your organization can even use infographics and other visual illustrations to simplify complex processes.
4. Make Online Training Easily Accessible
Employees must be able to access the online resources they require and get on with the rest of their work day. In most cases, they don’t have time to sit through long online presentations or wait until the instructor is available. They may even want to train outside of office hours. Online training affords them this opportunity. They’re able to access the LMS on their mobile devices anytime, anywhere. Some Learning Management Systems also feature downloadable HTML5 content. As such, they can build their skills and fill the gaps when Wi-Fi isn’t an option.
5. Offer “Just-In-Time” Online Training Support
An employee is in the middle of a task and realizes that they don’t have the information they need to complete the process. In traditional training settings, they would have to wait until the next session or turn to their managers for help. Thankfully, online training gives them immediate access to the knowledge they need. Microlearning resources serve as “just-in-time” online training support tools for your entire staff.
Microlearning is usually defined as brief online training activities or modules that center on specific tasks or topics. For example, a 3-minute task tutorial that highlights every step of the process. To fill performance gaps, offer employees a microlearning online library that features relevant categories. For instance, one section covers customer service tasks while another concentrates on compliance related issues.
6. Facilitate Immediate Feedback
Feedback is a crucial part of online training. Particularly timely feedback that focuses on strengths and weaknesses. Online training facilitates immediate feedback, as you can integrate it into your online training course.
For example, the Learning Management System gives employees a detailed overview of their performance and recommends additional online resources. The key is personalizing the feedback so that employees know what to work on and how to address the problem. For instance, the resources they can use to bridge the gap and improve their proficiency. You can even take it a step further by automating your online training course. In this case, the online training course automatically delivers relevant materials based on an employee’s performance gaps.
7. Provide Social Learning Opportunities
Remote employees don’t have the ability to chat with their colleagues around the water cooler or work one-on-one with the instructor. However, online training moves all of these vital social learning activities into the virtual realm. Online forums, social media groups, and corporate eLearning blogs allow them to communicate and collaborate with their peers. They can also use video conferencing and webinars to interact with online instructors or facilitators. Online training gives you the opportunity to offer individualized employee development on a global scale. Best of all, employees can benefit from the experience and expertise of their peers, no matter where they’re based. Social learning prevents feelings of isolation and makes employees feel like they’re part of a larger community. They know that they can rely on their extensive support network to address future performance gaps and online training issues.
Online training is an investment. It requires time, company resources, and careful planning. However, it offers your organization the power to bridge performance gaps, build essential skills, and make your employees more productive. Which is why so many businesses, big and small, have moved their training online.
Are you thinking about investing in custom online training? Read the article 5 Tips To Develop Custom eLearning That Improves Employees’ Performance to discover a few tips to develop custom online training that will enable you to unlock your company’s true potential.
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