19 June 2019

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We have been enjoying summer unofficially since May. However, summer will officially begin this weekend. We will celebrate with weekend trips and vacations to our favorite beaches or lakes. We will take this time to relax and enjoy time from work. We may complete books on our must-read lists. We will be reminded to wear sunscreen and drink water. If you live in the Southern US, mosquito repellent and a hat for high humidity days will be a must.

Training Summer Survival List

But…what do training managers need to survive in summer?

No matter the learner, subject matter (onboarding, product/service education, management skills, special topics) or delivery method, the training should be adaptable, repetitive and engaging to the learners. This helps with knowledge and skill retention. 

Typically, companies have summer interns and new hires following graduation. Of course, this means introducing the company, teams and culture to new employees. As you read the following tips and explore the link, think about your impression on the first day. Are there one or two things you could change to make a better impression or the process better? 

• Onboarding Tips
  • Professional materials and engaging videos and/or eLearning
  • Swag for the first day
  • Technology ready to go
  • Team introductions 

Beyond the subject matter, summer brings the possibility to evaluate your training. If you primarily use instructor-led and the learners are falling asleep, it may not be because the room is too warm. However, virtual training or gamification may require a few adjustments to keep learners engaged. Tim Hartford offers a fifteen-minute TedTalk where he discusses the need for problems to inspire creativity. This is a key for engaging adult learners in virtual and gamification training.

Below are a few more tips with links to the full articles.

• Virtual Training Tips   
  • Clear Objectives and Content 
  • Appropriate for all devices 
  • Follow CRAP (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment & Proximity) for slide design
• Gamification Training Tips
  • Solve a relatable problem
  • Make the learning interactive and self-paced
  • Have fun!

Take Away

As summer progresses and training sessions end, take time to reflect and consider if all the objectives were met. If the objectives are not met or  the learners are not engaged, then you should consider the time to conduct a full evaluation of your training program.