To accommodate the new norm of work, hybrid workplaces combine in-office and remote work. You can increase productivity and profits by combining the two options. The shift to hybrid work enables employees to tailor their work to meet their needs. The hybrid work model is gaining popularity among high-profile companies.
But despite all the advantages of a hybrid approach, there are still some challenges to address this as well. Training a hybrid workforce is among the most difficult of these challenges. Especially since all employees should be able to develop their careers.
The challenges of training and managing a hybrid workforce
Training hybrid workforces requires special attention. It is possible to split teams into in-office and remote teams. Yet, providing training that is consistent and relevant for both may be difficult.
Besides, HR must focus on supporting the tools and technology that support hybrid work environments. It will be necessary to establish a cohesive culture, arrange onboarding processes, and teach employees about the new expectations. All this calls for new policies. Additionally, a hybrid workplace requires training and development tailored to each employee’s specific needs.
6 learning strategies to adopt for the hybrid workplace
In a hybrid workplace, it is vital to adapt content and delivery mechanisms. Take a look at these six learning strategies that can help you in the process.
Communication skills
You need to be careful if you want to prevent polarization in the hybrid workplace. Training soft skills is a popular way for businesses to align all employees, irrespective of location. Many companies focus on communication training. When you have a hybrid workforce, you must learn how to resolve differences and address concerns. Distributed teams face communication challenges, and your training material should reflect this. Training on messaging applications or how to write intra-company emails might be something you want to offer.
Leadership training
Hybrid workforce management presents unique challenges and requires specialized skills. Many companies place an emphasis on training employees in essential leadership skills. Even in traditional workplaces, these skills are vital. Team leaders should make employees feel like they belong, regardless of where they work. Holding people accountable for results often involves being unable to see them at work or track their performance. Besides, they must learn how to work with greater trust and flexibility.
Reduce in-person training
When schedules and locations vary, it is difficult to balance on-site training with remote training. Employees who work from home miss out on live training sessions. There are some attending in person while others attend online, so it’s hard to include everyone.
Making your training self-paced and switching to an LMS provides equal access to your trainers. It assures that all employees receive the same training. With eLearning, you don’t have to worry about taking time off work for training because no one has to miss work. Plus, you maintain a flexible workplace allowing employees to choose where they wish to work or learn.
Cloud-based training solutions
Many companies are turning to eLearning as part of the transition to hybrid work. When employees are working from different locations and often across different time zones, self-paced training is a great solution. They can complete their training whenever and wherever it is convenient for them.
On the employee side, this sounds convenient but creates administrative challenges. One-size-fits-all workshops are challenging. But when you are implementing various programs, tailored to specific groups and monitoring their progress, difficulties multiply. That’s where a good LMS like UKG pro comes in. In other words, LMSs that host dynamic and engaging content are important.
Customize content
If your employees are remotely based or co-located, you might also want to customize content. Working from home affects how an employee performs his or her job, so you should tailor training to meet their needs. For example, remote workers might undergo training in delivering quality online customer support. Or, how to stay focused while out of the office. As well, workplace hazard training may only apply to office workers. Remote team members should be required to take cybersecurity training. It is, however, important to adapt your content. So that everyone receives a consistent and valuable education. And if necessary, to restrict some courses to a particular group.
Conclusion
Asking your teams about transitioning to a hybrid workplace is one of the major concerns of organizations today. However, you shouldn’t overlook the need to train your teams, either. Operational aspects are not all that matters. To create a successful hybrid workplace, what you train and how you engage trainees is important.
