The workplace is evolving at a rapid pace. More companies are embracing flexible work arrangements and remote employees, both of which come with benefits and drawbacks. While employees that can work from home are often happier, training a geographically diverse team can be a challenge. After all, you can’t usually get them all in the same room for in-person training, and some remote workers may have learning needs that differ from on-site staff.
While most companies focus on their in-house staff when it comes to training, that may not be the ideal approach. When you take a “remote-first” mindset, your company does stand to benefit.
If you are wondering why a remote-first strategy can be a better approach as well as how to train your remote employees, here’s what you need to know.
The Benefits of a Remote-First Strategy
Remote employees are somewhat unique in most organizations. While they may be part of a larger team – which may or may not include in-house staff – their interactions with their colleagues may be somewhat limited. Often, if a remote worker is struggling to understand a concept or solve a problem, they may have trouble reaching someone who can assist. As a result, they often need to rely on themselves to work through the issue.
By training your remote employees first, you are giving them knowledge that may not otherwise be easily accessible. They can then become more self-reliant, something that is beneficial for workers who don’t spend any time in the office.
Additionally, after training, they can become a resource for other staff members. If someone else encounters trouble, they can share information over the phone or through a messenger, allowing them to contribute to the team’s success in a new way.
Remote-First Training Tips
A remote-first training strategy makes having an accessible program a must. Ideally, you want your training to be available both through a desktop or laptop as well as mobile devices. Whether this involves an adaptable browser-based delivery or a separate mobile app will depend on what is available through your LMS, though either approach can be effective.
Next, you want to make sure that your training is convenient. Microlearning (bite-size learning) separates each core topic or concept into a highly-focused module that can be completed in minutes. This approach makes it easy to fit training into even the busiest of schedules. The learners don’t have to dedicate large blocks of time to the task. Instead, they can squeeze in a 10- to 20-minute session whenever works for them.
Finally, make your content interactive. When all your learner is doing is reading text on a screen or listening to audio, the experience isn’t very engaging. They may choose to skim over the information or may tune out the audio, causing them to miss critical parts of the lesson.
Interactive training is inherently more engaging as it requires active participation. Similarly, by adding a social component, you can encourage your team to discuss concepts and collaborate, something that can enhance understanding and help them bond.
Ultimately, a remote-first strategy is beneficial to the employee and the company as a whole. Plus, it can be implemented with relative ease with the help of a skilled L&D professional.
Are You Looking for L&D Professionals to Make Your Remote-First Training Strategy a Reality?
At Clarity Consultants, we have focused on the L&D field for nearly a quarter-century. By partnering with us, you gain access to a valuable resource that can make locating the top talent your company needs to thrive easier than ever before. If you are looking for L&D professionals who can help you bring your remote-first training strategy to life, the team at Clarity Consultants can identify the high-quality candidates you need to make that possible. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive recruitment and hiring services and see how our L&D expertise can benefit you.
