In the Words Consulting offers some trends training professionals should consider tapping into in 2013 (if you haven’t already):
- Use social media as a facilitated delivery process. The majority of the world population is using social media to stay connected and in the know. Not only is it fast, but it brings a range of benefits, including efficiency and more learning opportunities.
- Invest in a learning management system (LMS). The corporate sector has grown increasingly savvy when it comes to LMSs. It’s a great way to deliver, track, and improve training among employees all at once.
- Stay engaged in, updated on, and educated on the industry. With time, all things change. In the training industry, change should be for the better, considering that training is never going away. Besides, you should never pass on the chance to find faster and better ways to be more effective.
- Connect with other training professionals and share information. Contrary to the old adage that everyone is competition, it is best to be helpful to others within the learning community and gain some new insight and perspective on other solutions in use…and actually working! Webinars and conferences outside of your immediate comfort zone may be most helpful.
- Step outside of training employees and train your customers, too. For example, if you want your customers to shop more online than in-store, create a Website and use it as a tool to address their spending habits. Simply drive them to the Website each time they come into the store using incentives or added buying power. This “learning opportunity” for the customer can build trust, reduce costs, and potentially increase revenue.
“Training opportunities are endless,” says Tameka Washington, IWC communications and training consultant. “Corporate organizations are using various tools to meet the demand of staff and team learning needs.” The key, she adds, is making sure people understand the benefits.