This informal CPD article, ‘Navigating Learning in a Post-Pandemic Hybrid Workforce, was provided by iAM Learning, who are transforming the way your workforce trains and retains, using high-end animation, lovable characters and captivating stories to make even the most serious subjects appealing and unforgettable.
These last few years in the workplace have been very different. The pandemic has shown us that heading to the office every day might not necessarily be the best way to work. There’s been a significant cultural shift towards a more hybrid solution – where people do their jobs splitting their time between home and the office.
And why not? For many people, this situation is ideal. They can cut out the commute, and be comfortable while they work from home, and collaborate when in the office. As long as the work is done and is of good quality, it makes for happier employees and cuts down on workplace overheads, right?
But what happens with their training in this new world? Is it overlooked? Are there severe challenges, or is there an opportunity for L&D teams to use hybrid working to their advantage? The truth is a little of both. Let’s explore this in further detail now.
The Current State of Hybrid Work and Its Impact on Learning
The new hybrid work model, combining remote and in-office work, has become normalised in many businesses since they took the plunge during the pandemic. Clearly, this has had an effect on learning and development. Employees used to easily gather for training sessions or collaborative learning sessions, and now they are scattered across different locations. That makes things more difficult when trying to ensure everyone has equal access to development opportunities.
Leveraging Tools and Tech for Hybrid Learning
This challenge, fortunately, is fairly easy to tackle. There are a wealth of useful tools and technologies which can help facilitate learning in these hybrid environments. Learning Management Systems (or LMS) have become essential. They allow businesses to deliver online courses, as well as track progress and provide resources to both remote and on-site teams. Things like virtual whiteboards, collaboration platforms and communication tools help teams to brainstorm and learn together regardless of whether they’re in the office or supping a cuppa at the local café.
Strategies for Engaging Remote and On-Site Employees
One of the key challenges is keeping all employees equally engaged in learning initiatives. This requires some effective engagement strategies to conquer, including:
- Ensuring all learning content is accessible, and optimised for both in-person and remote learners to use
- Incorporating interactive elements, such as polls, quizzes and virtual Q&A sessions to encourage everyone to participate
- Providing the opportunity for people to ‘buddy-up’ for peer-to-peer learning so they can share knowledge, including virtual coffee catchups or mentorship programs
- Offering a mix of learning options that accommodate different schedules and preferences, such as live sessions that everyone attends, and self-pace lessons and resources that people can access on their own time
- Ensuring any eLearning taken is of high-quality, relatable characters, stories and animation to keep learners engaged
Implementing a Successful Hybrid Learning Challenge
Organisations that have successfully implemented have found some key factors that contributed to their success. They leveraged robust LMS to provide courses and resources to both on-site and remote employees. They used virtual collaboration tools, such as video conferencing and whiteboards to create interactive, group-based learning, too.
Crucially, successful companies offer a blend of live sessions and eLearning modules. That allows people to schedule learning and access high-quality training both as required and as a preference, for those who want to learn new skills more frequently. They also focus on creating a learning culture, with a community of learners that attend virtual social events to stay connected, even if they aren’t physically there. It’s all in the mix! Tech, delivery method and community building - if companies can implement and manage these, their hybrid learning programs are likely to succeed.
Wrapping up
The switch to a hybrid workforce has presented challenges for L&D, but it’s also created exciting opportunities. By embracing the right tools, tech and engagement strategies, L&D professionals and leaders can make sure learning remains inclusive, engaging and effective for everyone, wherever they work. It’s just another part of the workplace landscape to navigate if you want to unlock the full potential of your hybrid workforce, right? Let’s support all employee’s continued growth and development together.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from iAM Learning, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
