Technological advancements and globalization have made it possible for remote work opportunities to exist in increasing regularity in the modern-day workforce.
Source: Traimak_Ivan / iStock / Getty
Studies and research also indicate that workers are starting to demand more remote work opportunities from their employers, which also means that they’ll need more remote training opportunities since they are also demanding to be upskilled and trained more frequently by their employers.
Many employers, managers, and L&D professionals, however, find it difficult to administer training programs for remote workers or teams because of a lack of practices and strategies that unify learners with their training initiatives.
But, luckily, there is a way to keep your training initiatives unified with the rise of remote work at your own organization. Below are some tips and best practices to follow.
Become More Agile
Develop your training initiatives to account for constant change in the workplace and you will be able to adapt them to fit your remote workers’ work styles, everyday environments, and aptitudes. And as a result, your remote workers will be able to be more engaged with them.
Read 4 Ways L&D Departments Are Becoming More Agile and The Ins and Outs of Training and Developing More Agile Employees for more insight.
Implement Mobile-First Technology
If you want your remote workers to participate in and look forward to your training programs, those programs must be implemented with mobile-first technology—where they’re developed with the assumption that learners will mainly be using mobile devices to access learning content.
Remote workers already rely on mobile technology to conduct their work, so make it easier for them to access training materials and learning content on mobile devices, too.
Focus on Enhanced and Effective Communications
If you want to have more remote workers access and complete your training programs, then make it easy for them to understand what’s expected of them and when it’s expected of them, for each training program. And make sure to clearly communicate how their training will impact their everyday remote work responsibilities.
You can do this by keeping a virtual dashboard for learners in your learning management system or app. You can also keep open communication channels with learners via platforms like Slack and via your learning management system—a virtual space where they can contact you and their fellow learners in real time for assistance, collaboration, and social learning experiences.
Additionally, you should make it easy for them to submit feedback regarding training content and programs so that you can continue to improve their learning experiences. Otherwise, they will start to neglect your training programs once the programs become tedious, difficult, or irrelevant.
Endorse a Learning Culture
Especially with remote workers, you’ll want to endorse a learning culture across your organization. An organization that encourages and empowers its employees to gain knowledge and improved competence on a continuous basis will succeed with their training initiatives, whether those employees are remote or not.
For more details, read How to Implement an Effective Learning Culture for Your Company Part 1 and Part 2.
If you’re serious about linking your training initiatives to your remote workers’ success, and to the success of your entire organization, be sure to keep the tips and best practices above in mind.