Employee engagement is at the forefront of business success. The sooner your business becomes aware of its importance, the sooner it will be able to capitalise on its benefits.
As there are so many ways to improve employee engagement, your business has countless options available. You don’t have to conform to any specific set of rules or follow a set-in-stone blueprint.
In this blog, we will be looking at digital learning and how you can use it to boost employee engagement.
Gamify The Experience
Gamification is not a new concept in training. It basically means applying elements of gaming in other scenarios – in this case, digital learning. We might often hear about the addictive nature of gaming, but it has plenty of benefits, too. Most importantly, it improves creativity, cognition and even sociability.
The way to apply gaming principles to digital learning is simple. You can devise scoreboards that will keep track of everyone’s progress and boost the sense of purpose that comes with the task. Adding rewards, celebrations, badges and other symbols to your gamified digital training sessions can add another layer of interest and engagement.
For instance, McDonald’s has a gamified till-training exercise that boosts employee’s understanding of the till system. On top of that, it also boosts their performance and makes them more engaged by enabling them to grasp new concepts and perfect new routines in a fun way. Make sure the competition doesn’t get out of hand, though. Focus on fostering a team spirit, as opposed to a competitive environment where it’s “us” against “them.”
Use Interactive Video Content
Video content is quickly becoming the preferred way of learning online. With so many different video learning platforms available, you have a practically endless choice. You’ll certainly be able to find a course that fits your needs and interests and that can be an engaging experience for your team. If we also consider the fact that 75% of employees are more likely to watch a video than read a document or an article, you’ll see why video is the way to go.
You can use video lessons for anything from onboarding and training to demonstrating the use of a new tool or a new process. You can also film your own video tutorials in-house so that they perfectly match your needs, or you can find ready-made tutorials online. Both Skillshare and Udemy are great platforms for this purpose. They offer endless wells of knowledge across areas ranging from business to leadership and management to the creative arts.
Live streaming a training session is also a great way to connect with your team. Boost their engagement by asking them to participate and throw their two cents into the discussion. You can also record these sessions and use them for future lessons as well.
Don’t Forget About Individual Learning
Individual or self-directed learning is another important part of training that can boost employee engagement. By transferring the responsibility from the teacher to the learner, you will give your employees the autonomy to choose what to learn and when. You’ll allow them to make their own decisions based on personal interests and knowledge levels.
Essentially, individual learning is an amazing way to personalise the experience. It allows for individual differences to shine through and enables your team to focus on their own career paths. It makes a big difference in comparison to a learning experience that is being handed to them.
Autonomous learners also tend to feel more engaged, as they are in possession of all the decision-making power. This is your way of honing specific skills and complementing the knowledge and experience individuals in your team already have.
Final Thoughts
Increasing employee engagement through digital learning is a simple yet effective way to unlock the hidden potential of your staff, help them to hone their skills even further and take your business to the next level.
Choose the materials you want to use carefully. Tailor them to the experiences and interests of your employees, as opposed to going with the most popular or highly-recommended option.
Be mindful of individual paces and timeframes as well and don’t force everyone to move in a pack. Instead, provide a safe and judgment-free environment where everyone can thrive at their own leisure.
Author: Sarah Kaminski is a freelance writer and social media marketer. She works with a number of small businesses to build their brands through more engaging marketing and content.
Photo Credits: Unsplash
