Top L&D Trends In The Training Industry
What is L&D?
L&D stands for Learning and Development.
Large companies have entire departments and invest millions into their employees through L&D programs. It is a proven method to increase company retention and improve company culture. As a result, SMBs are starting to follow suit and invest in L&D through Learning Management Systems and curated L&D solutions.
Employee Training: How It Is Changing
Employee training and development is evolving. And has done so significantly in recent years. Long gone are the days when professional training was considered a ‘once and done’ event.
With help from technological advancements within the training industry, companies around the globe are expected to view training opportunities for their employees as an ‘anytime, anywhere, on any device’ kind of activity. Bus delayed? Pull up a training module on your phone. Have some downtime during client meetings? Open your computer and lookup an interactive training guide.
Expectations for learning and development opportunities are becoming more advanced. The modern workforce looks to employers to provide training programs during their careers that are a continuous process without a definitive expiration date. These employees want to work in a professional environment that understands the importance of putting employee training at the centre of their success and evolution.
To make sure that your business continues to thrive, embrace change and be open to adapting your training practices. Doing so will mean that your employees are able to navigate the complexities of the market at every stage of the employee lifecycle.
The Learning & Development Trends Your Company Should Look Out For
If your company’s current training opportunities could do with a well-needed overhaul, you should certainly make yourself aware of the following learning and development trends in the training:
- Adoption of modern learning systems
- Blended learning experiences
- Focus put on learner confidence
- Accessible training opportunities
- Sustainable learning plan design
The Adoption Of Modern Learning Systems
Today’s modern business environment is vastly different from what was the norm 20 years ago. We are sure that you’ve updated many of your business processes in the last few decades. So, why shouldn’t your employees’ training opportunities be included in that?
One of the main learning and development (L&D) trends in the training industry is the adoption of modern learning systems. As we mentioned above, the modern workforce expects up to date systems in terms of training. And employers expect employees to stay upskilled. By viewing learning and development opportunities as an ongoing process, companies can adopt a continuous learning environment and leverage their employees’ success.
That’s what modern learning systems are all about – creating a continuous learning experience for employees. It’s no surprise that the shelf-life of skills are diminishing. On average your employees will forget 50% of what they learned after one hour and 90% within a week. If your l&d systems are reminiscent of what the generation before had then your employees will struggle to keep their skills up to date.
Blended Experiences
You may or may not have heard of the term ‘blended learning’ before now. In a snapshot, it’s the combination of traditional on-site training with online e-learning training modules. As technology is evolving and more options for delivering training come available, blend learning experiences will be key for effective learning.
The millennial generation, in particular, values having a choice when it comes to the mediums in which they can learn. Being able to seamlessly move from one device to another and from in-person to online is a job benefit coveted by this generation. As there are now countless tools at a company’s disposal, the need for balance between formal learning options and experiential learning is more pressing than ever before.
Focus On Learner Confidence
L&D trends are quickly pointing focus towards a solution to boost learner confidence. There is a growing awareness of the role that confidence plays in skills development. If your employees have low confidence levels, this can act as a barrier to performance and progression within the company.
People with lower levels of confidence in the workplace are hesitant not only showcasing their skills but also in applying them. The impact of confidence levels of an employee on skills development is deeply rooted in the quality of corporate training they receive. Learning and development strategies are evolving to ensure that these employees will gain the benefits that they need to increase proficiency levels and confidence in their abilities.
Repetition of learned skills is a great way for your employees to build their learner confidence. Not only does it boost their chance of knowledge retention but it also increases the likelihood that these skills will become ingrained behaviour. It is important that companies introduce training opportunities that provide learning experiences which allows an employee to practise new skills as part of their daily workflow.
Accessible Training Opportunities
Leading businesses ensure they are accessible and diverse, down to the training programs they offer. Training should never be limited by the physical or health restrictions of a person at your business.
As our working processes become more dynamic and our roles more complex, training solutions are evolving to become more accessible for employees. Learning and development strategies are making this happen by introducing the concept of personalized micro-learning.
Personalized micro-learning offers singular and adaptable modules that allow your employees to upskill in a timely manner. For example, when an employee gains new responsibilities in their role, rather than having to take a whole new course they can simply choose a module that suits their needs. This is another reason why blended learning options are becoming so popular.
Having access to a library of great content, like the one that The Learning Centre provides, gives your company the opportunity to make your training opportunities personalized for your employees and packaged into bite-sized modules. Better yet, having these module options available on multiple devices is the key to making learning easier to digest for your company.
How Employee Learning Styles Affect Your Training Solutions
People digest content in various ways. Some employees are more receptive to certain learning styles than others. In a fast-paced, corporate environment, time wasted on an ineffective training solution can lead to slower production. As an employer, you must understand how learning styles affect your choice of training solutions.
There are four common learning styles: visual, audio, reading and kinesthetic.
Most of your employees will be a little of each type but for most individuals, one style will come out on top over the others. Visual learners prefer learning through the use of graphics and videos. Individuals who learn better with audio cues would lean towards content material such as a podcast or voice-over videos. While kinesthetic learners learn best via experience and putting skills learnt into practice as part of their daily workflow.
By choosing a training solution that caters to just one learning style such as visual, you will be overlooking talent within your organization that prefers to learn via a different approach. Many corporate training providers advise companies to include a multimodal style of learning when designing a training program.
Adopting your training materials to adapt to your team’s various learning styles will yield a broad range of benefits for your company including:
- Reduced time to learn new skills
- A realistic appraisal of employees strengths and weaknesses
- Increased employee enthusiasm and engagement
Looking For Affordable And Accessible Learning Solutions?
Affordable and accessible learning solutions are out there. At the Canadian Training Company, we believe that learning is for everyone and that all company sizes deserve the best quality training available.
Our blended training solutions allow you to take as much as you need and when you need it. We know that not everyone’s learning styles or requirements are the same. So, by choosing an accessible training option you can make sure that your employees are receiving the training that they need in the learning style that suits them best.
As learning and development trends continue to evolve, your employee training will become a learning experience that is engaging, relevant and fun. That’s what our training solutions are all about. Looking for a new training partner? We make the decision easy for you by allowing you to provide a learning experience that is achievable, affordable and accessible through #crazygoodcontent.