Everything Your Business Needs To Futureproof Your Hybrid Training Strategy

Posted by BeaconLive

Increase Employee Productivity And Retention With A Hybrid Virtual Event

Companies and organizations around the world are realizing that virtual events can boost their bottom line and bring their employees together no matter how far apart they are. In a similar fashion to remote working, hybrid virtual events will prove to be an effective way for employees and supervisors to come together in a meaningful manner right from the comfort of their own homes.

 

Employees are comfortable with remote work, and as more knowledge workers turn to online events, you can build a lasting impact by building great online events like virtual conferences, video conferencing with coworkers, and even participating in online learning and development courses to further their professional skills. 

 

With the prospect of reopening the office on the horizon, and many employees opting to remain remote, professional development leaders will need to utilize hybrid learning plans to include both a face-to-face and a remote audience. 

 

Moving forward, a blended learning model will be crucial to maintaining employee morale, so now is the time to find ways to make your hybrid training experience as productive as it can be for your employees and staff!

 

Corporate educators like you will need to adapt their skillset to help employees develop the skills, mentality, and habits they need to adapt to the new remote workplace environment successfully.

 

Why Should You Use Hybrid Training Strategies?

For many years, organizations have utilized the instructor-led format for employee learning experiences. While highly effective in imparting good training, companies face problems using this format, including high costs, logistical issues, and scheduling conflicts. 

 

Throw in a pandemic, and traditional learning and development (L&D) is impossible. That’s where hybrid comes in. 

 

Hybrid learning is an effective training tool because it combines highly engaging in-person experiences with the flexibility of self-guided online learning opportunities and resources. This formula moves your professional development to a new level of effectiveness and efficiency. 

 

The benefits of hybrid learning for employee training include:

  • Efficiency And Convenience: A blended learning approach allows instructors to maximize time spent in a live setting. Since learners can complete some components online, real-time sessions can be hyper-targeted on specific skills, while the rest is consumed online at the employee’s own pace. 

  • Saving Time And Money: Less time in a classroom setting means less money spent on things like accommodations and more time in the workday to focus on other tasks. 

  • Employee Empowerment Hybrid learning offers the personalization of an in-person class with the flexibility of on-demand training content. The live component of a hybrid training strategy allows your staff to interact with an instructor, while the eLearning part offers flexible training opportunities. 

 

You and your employees can enjoy the benefits of both hybrid and live learning formats and overcome the limitations presented by both. 

 

4 Ways To Create A Futureproof Hybrid Training Strategy 

If you want to stay ahead of the competition and keep your employees engaged, then you will need a plan that brings together the best of virtual and in-person events. Business owners will need to effectively merge new, fluid working styles with their existing training strategies.

 

Training will be crucial to develop additional skills to maintain trust amongst teams. Offer learning and development that trains employees on hybrid working and learning expectations. Execute regular check-ins to ensure everything is going well on their end. 

 

1. Maintain A Culture Of Trust And Flexibility 

Merging work and living spaces hasn’t been easy for employees. Even though there have been plenty of challenges, it has led to a new level of flexibility and trust in the workplace. Workers have had more control than ever over their work schedule and setting. 

 

To future-proof your hybrid training strategy, this culture of trust will need to be nurtured and maintained. 

 

Managers must adjust their approach to facilitate meaningful dialogue and ensure team members’ voices are heard. The technology that allows companies to embrace the remote workforce will be as valuable as ever in a hybrid learning environment to maintain a sense of community and augment client interactions. 

 

Both leaders and employees must continue to develop their ability to collaborate and communicate effectively to cultivate a hybrid learning environment. 

 

2. Train For Skills, Not Jobs

For any learning and development course to be effective, it needs to align with the company’s mission. 

 

To futureproof your hybrid training strategy, you will want to focus on providing training for specific skills aligned to business goals rather than how to perform a job.

 

Once these skills have been identified, teach them in “chunks” aligned to specific projects, work challenges, or challenges currently being worked on. Facilitate online discussions to get the ball rolling and allow your employees to engage with each other as they learn. 

 

For example, when blending learning methods for your service technicians, you may want to equip them with the tools to troubleshoot your products on the spot. You can reach this objective through both prerecorded eLearning modules and in-person workshops. 

 

In the live workshop, workers gain hands-on experience, whereas the videos serve as reminders or reinforcers that can be accessed long after the in-person session has ended. Not only have you provided training in a hybrid setting, but you now have a set of resources that can be accessed and repurposed as needed. 

 

3. Consider Employee Blended Learning Preferences 

Hybrid training comes in many shapes and sizes so you can customize your event to meet the needs of your attendees. To ensure a hybrid training strategy caters to your employees’ needs, corporate educators must ask for their opinions and preferences before planning learning and development opportunities. 

 

During the design process, survey to determine your learners’ requirements and the learning formats they prefer. Some workers may select synchronous, face-to-face presentations, while others may like training materials to be presented in short, gamified asynchronous modules. 

 

The survey will also let you know if one-on-one support is needed to make sure everyone can access the online learning portion of your hybrid plan. It will also let you know what social distancing plans you need to make to safety offer in-person learning options. 

 

4. Make Connections To Engage Your Employees 

While navigating the shift in workplace dynamics toward remote work, it’s essential for employees to feel engaged and connected. 

 

Organizations must view hybrid training as an opportunity to reestablish core values and offer the engagement their employees have been missing during remote working. 

 

Employees may feel disconnected from their coworkers due to different work schedules and locations. Managers and HR professionals know how to keep their workforce feeling and functioning as a unit even when they aren’t in the same space. It is essential to use these skills in a hybrid environment. 

 

Despite hectic schedules, factoring in time for fun and socializing during training is a must. Work a virtual coffee break or a small group, socially-distanced lunch into your hybrid training strategy. 

 

Also, consider planning personal and emotional learning opportunities to ensure the well-being of your staff. Offering hybrid training centered around your team’s health and wellness will show you care about them as individuals rather than just staff members. 

 

Futureproof Learning And Development By Using Hybrid Training Strategies 

As businesses slowly reopen, companies will experience new challenges. Organizations must revisit and refine their company culture and core values. 

 

Training leaders will need to reassess their vision for future training and development opportunities. They need to consider combining the positive qualities of an office environment through remote working with the use of a learning management system

 

Hybrid training helps employees be engaged, motivated, and empowered while maintaining productivity levels. Learning activities and professional development sessions are pivotal during the transition and beyond as you pioneer a culture of hybrid learning.


 

Topics: eLearning, Hybrid Events, Online Training, Professional Development, Training & Development

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FAQs

What is hybrid training?

Hybrid training involves selected sessions or content of learning and development being implemented online while others are done in person, creating a hybrid learning model.

Why should I embrace a hybrid learning model for corporate training?

Embracing a hybrid learning model for corporate training will lead to increased productivity, lower learning and development costs, and improved employee experiences. 

How can I make my webinar more engaging?

Host a webinar that people aren't bored with by including interactive features and offering remote learning content On-Demand.