Transform Your Workplace: Essential Training Methods for Hybrid Workforces

Over the last year and a half, many firms have decided to establish a hybrid work environment for their employees. This method was initially chosen as a response to the global COVID-19 outbreak. Due to lower costs, increased efficiency, and employee approval, many companies are now permitting both in-person and remote work for their employees.

But, learning and development for a hybrid workforce is a difficult task for learning leaders, who must restructure and reassess both the content and delivery of L&D programs.

A hybrid workforce is significantly more dynamic than a standard in-office workforce, and individuals who have recently made the switch to a hybrid working style have quite different training requirements than they did previously.

Many hybrid workforces (including senior leaders, mid-tier leaders, and front-line managers) are confronted with challenges and problems they have never faced before in their careers.

In principle, hybrid work combines the best of both worlds. So, how can you take advantage of the advantages of both in-person and remote work to boost your learning and development programs? We have some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about hybrid learning.

Is Composite learning and hybrid learning the same thing? 

Not at all. Composite (commonly known as blended) learning programs are ones in which all students participate in a combination of instructor-led sessions (either electronically or in-person) and self-paced e-Learning material. 

In most cases, hybrid learning focuses on developing solutions that allow in-person and virtual learners to participate in the same sessions regardless of their location. Blended learning is a powerful development method, but it isn't necessarily designed for the post-pandemic era. Hybrid learning was developed to meet the needs of firms with workers who operate in mixed environments.

Another word for digital learning is e-Learning, which differs from hybrid learning in that it is delivered entirely through the internet. While some e-Learning may be included in hybrid programs, hybrid learning is not always e-Learning.

When does hybrid learning work best?

Hybrid learning engages and accommodates all types of learners, thus, most organizations are turning to it. While many employees choose remote work, a large portion of the workforce still performs and learns better in a face-to-face setting. The most successful use of hybrid learning is to get the most out of learners; its adaptability allows your company to provide the most appropriate education technique for each employee.

Is Hybrid learning cost-effective? 

The cost-effectiveness of hybrid learning is one of its key attractions. We've said it before and we'll say it again: training programs are only as good as they are engaging. To put it another way, in order to get the most out of any training program, you must guarantee that employees are learning in the most effective method for them. 

Because learners can choose the delivery methods that best suit their goals, hybrid learning programs provide a high return on investment (ROI). Furthermore, because hybrid learning programs are mostly digital, they are highly scalable and may be used in both totally remote and in-person settings as necessary. 

When it comes to developing a hybrid e-Learning program, there are a number of things to think about. These include everything from learner needs to company goals to desired outcomes. 

Understanding your learners' needs is likely the most crucial stage in developing a successful e-Learning program. Consider how much time your employees have available, what they need to learn, and how they prefer to study. It's critical to include learning as an additional item on an employee's to-do list when examining their time and availability. 

If your staff are overworked, implementing an agile hybrid program could be one of the most cost-effective strategies to save time and money. Also, to avoid the stress and frustration of sitting through hours of training sessions, try a hybrid micro-learning strategy (micro-learning can be effective both in-person and virtually).

Aligning your hybrid e-Learning program with business goals is a must if you want to maximize your return on investment. This is where you may be more inventive with delivery methods and collaboration. 

Remember that the fundamental value of a hybrid learning strategy is its flexibility and agility when evaluating its deployment. Nonetheless, we recognize and value the importance of simplicity and clarity, so keep the following in mind when you design and implement your solution: 

1. Create training that is adaptable and effective in both virtual and physical environments. Building in-person solutions and then transferring them to virtual platforms may seem appealing, but they will almost certainly be less effective. To avoid negative consequences, create the right answer the first time.

2. Create flexible in-person learning environments. Make sure that in-person classes have the resources they need to interact with virtual students. Although most conference rooms can work, investing in high-quality video conferencing hardware is an excellent approach to elevate your learning programs. 

3. Be inventive. Most learners are unfamiliar with hybrid eLearning, therefore try to come up with inventive ways to personalize the program to them. Custom branding, themes, and engagement activities can all help with this.

As businesses increasingly turn to hybrid work settings as a viable alternative to traditional office employment, it's critical that they create learning and development programs that are accessible to all learners. 

Hence, to help you determine the efficacy of these initiatives, iMocha L&D methods can help you conduct pre and post-assessments.

Determine whether or not employees are ready for digital transformation. 

The entire ecosystem is changing dramatically, because of digital technologies. In practice, all fundamental office operations, manual processes have given way to automation. Leaders may concentrate on the more critical areas of the business through Digital Transformation. Hence, 

• Assess workforce readiness for digital skills needed in the next years to ensure thorough digital transformation projects.
• UiPath, AI/ML, IoT, Blockchain, Analytics, Automation Anywhere, AWS, Azure, and many more are among the 50+ digital talents available.

Also Read: Why companies are moving towards digital transformation

Use our self-assessment platform to help employees improve their skills.

Allow staff to take charge of their own upskilling efforts. They are free to choose and take an assessment for their selected domain or skills.

• Employees can track, measure, and benchmark their performance against organizational standards using a self-assessment platform.
• Choose from 200+ job-role exams covering 2,000+ skills such as Digital Skills, Enterprise Applications, Cloud, Infrastructure Management, Application Development, Aptitude, Banking, and more.

Also Read: Reskilling and Upskilling in The Age of Digital Transformation 

Create client-ready pools

Ensure that your personnel are client-ready and have a thorough understanding of specialized talents. In addition to one specialty expertise, they should be able to perform a variety of tasks. 

• Assess employee competencies in a variety of areas.
• Compare them to the requirements of potential clients.
• Implement upskilling initiatives that do not meet the client's requirements.

With iMocha's Upskilling Assessment Portal, you can ensure that your personnel is client-ready by assessing their abilities and enhancing their trade. 

There are certain key considerations to make when building learning and development for a hybrid workforce, such as content and delivery methods, but from a large picture view, it's apparent that this is an exciting new period for L&D executives.

So, these are some of the best training methods which you can use for your hybrid workforce in this post COVID era. We'd love to talk with you if you've been entrusted with finding fresh techniques and content for your hybrid workforce. To know more about the learning and development training methods, visit: https://www.imocha.io/solutions/learning-and-development or write to us at support@imocha.io