How to Train Remote Employees Effectively
Here's 5 tips on how to most effectively training your remote team. These strategies will keep your team engaged and productive.
Over the past couple of years many businesses have shifted to remote work - becoming the new norm. In fact, the majority of remote-capable employees now work hybrid or exclusively remotely.
As a result, training employees remotely has become the new norm in. Around 69% of employees agree that upskilling and reskilling training has been beneficial for their job performance.
So, the question arises: what are the most effective methods for training remote employees? If you're eager to find out the answer, we discuss 5 best practices for training remote teams effectively:
1. Use Employee Training Software
One of the higher ROI things you can do as a business is to use employee training software. It's designed to help remote teams master new skills and sharpen existing ones, with streamlined training processes for both learners and course creators.
More and more employers are turning to these solutions because they're practical and convenient, offering access to asynchronous training programs from any location, at any time.
These modern training platforms integrate gamification elements, which can really boost engagement and motivation by adding competitive elements and reward systems. This approach makes learning more fun and encourages ongoing participation and completion of training modules.
Plus, the advanced data analytics in these platforms help spot where skills and knowledge are lacking. This allows organizations to create customized learning paths that fit each remote employee's specific needs.
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2. Vary Training Formats
Another great way to train your remote employees is to use a variety of training formats. For example, you can mix live, synchronous sessions with asynchronous learning, or you can use microlearning sessions with an instructor.
You could mix the following mediums:
- Video
- Audio / podcast style
- Checklists
- Cheatsheets
- Downloadable worksheets
- Webinars
- Presentations
- Etc
3. Encourage Interactive Training
Whether we want to admit it or not, our attention span has become extremely short over the years (looking at your social media...) - and this has an effect on our abilities to focus.
In fact, the average employee switches between 10 apps up to 25 times per day. That's why finding ways to keep learners engaged during training sessions has become a challenge—but one that can be overcome.
So to keep your remote workers motivated while they do their training, use interactive activities, simulations, and real-life examples. Also, provide employees with regular assessments and design the training material so that employees can control their learning journey (e.g. the speed and frequency).
4. Centralize Resources
It's important to keep all your training materials in one convenient location to make it as simple (and stress free) as possible for your employees.
It not only simplifies the process of remote training but also ensures that your employees have seamless access to necessary resources, helping them stay engaged and continuously develop their skills.
Investing in a Learning Management System (LMS) can be a game-changer for your organization. An LMS not only brings together all your training materials but also connects your teams and facilitates easy access to these resources. By using such comprehensive tools, you can enhance the training experience, delivering first-class training that keeps your workforce ahead of the curve.
This method not only supports continuous learning but also aligns perfectly with the needs of a modern, dispersed workforce, making it an essential strategy for businesses aiming to foster growth and boost productivity in a remote work environment.
5. Encourage Social Learning
While remote work has tons of perks for both companies and employees, it can sometimes make folks feel isolated, especially those who aren't in the office. To tackle this, it's key to create opportunities that bring everyone together, whether they're remote or on-site, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
A great way to start is by setting up chat groups and forums, along with project-based activities that boost communication skills and create a sense of belonging. These days, there are loads of virtual training platforms that make collaboration among remote teams a breeze. These platforms let employees share resources, ask questions, and swap knowledge and experiences.
Wrapping it up
Training remote employees might seem like a challenge, but with the right tools and strategies, it's totally manageable and can even be a lot of fun! Using employee training software, mixing up training formats, and keeping everything centralized are great ways to start. Don't forget the power of interactive and social learning to keep your team engaged and feeling connected.
Remember, it’s all about creating a learning environment that’s accessible, engaging, and tailored to your team's needs. By investing in the right platforms and approaches, you’ll not only boost productivity and skills but also foster a sense of community among your remote workers. So, get started today and watch your remote team thrive!