Whether we like it or not, remote work has become the new norm. The pandemic has forced businesses to find ways to manage work from home, and some of them have found it so beneficial that they want to continue it for the long term.
Along with remote work, learning and development too has been shifted to virtual sessions to ensure employees keep learning even in the midst of the pandemic. In this phase, businesses have discovered various tools that support remote work and learning management.
While remote work management becomes effortless with tools like project management software, the delivery and management of remote learning courses has been highly successful with the help of tools like learning management software (LMS).
An LMS facilitates the creation, documentation, deployment, delivery and management of online learning programs. It also makes it very easy to track employee learning progress, which helps in understanding how impactful the course has been.
Apart from investing in an LMS, here are some of the best practices for managing a remote training program and getting the most out of it.
Set realistic goals
Managing anything is impossible without having proper direction, which is why you need a set of well-defined goals. You need to research employee learning needs and then take a look at their existing skillset to identify gaps.
This will help you plan the training program in a structured way that will strongly engage the employees. Make sure you set realistic and relevant learning goals so you can measure the success of the training program after the training has been delivered.
Help employees understand its benefits
It’s not uncommon for employees to resist changes. They may not warm up to the idea of a remote training program. This could be because of the challenges associated with remote work like feeling isolated and poor work-life balance.
To successfully manage a remote training program and ensure employees learn from it, make sure you convey beforehand the purpose of the training program. When you clearly explain how it will assist them in their career growth, employees are more likely to be interested in it.
Provide your employees the necessary tools
One of the best ways to manage a remote training program is to ensure your employees have all the necessary tools to access the training material. Make sure you choose an LMS with a user-friendly interface so employees don’t waste time looking for their courses.
You will also need web conferencing tools to provide rapid live training. The best part is, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a web conferencing software. For instance, consider Adobe Connect. The Adobe Connect Pricing model shows that it has a free trial, which allows you to understand how easy/complicated it makes the management of virtual training sessions.
Keep in mind employee work schedules
Often managers completely lose track of the fact that employees need to balance work, learning and their personal life. It can get quite complicated for them to spare time for learning if they are swamped with work. Add to that the fact that working from home is full of distractions.
Make sure you respect their time and plan the training in a way that doesn’t obstruct their work schedules or personal commitments. This will allow them to follow through with the entire training without feeling burnt out. It is crucial to communicate well the important work and training aspects to avoid any confusion.
Conclusion
Training employees is crucial to enhance their performance. With the right tools and strategies, managing remote employee training programs becomes easy. What are the practices followed by your organization to manage remote employee L&D? Share your tips in the comments below.
