Ensuring Long-Term Impact: Effectively Leading Your Team Post-Training

Step 1: Embrace the Power of Informal Learning:

Before diving into implementation, understand why informal learning is a game-changer. Recognize its tangible benefits, despite lacking a structured plan. As an HR leader, this understanding is crucial for advocating and driving the change.

Start with Establishing a Recognition Framework:
Create a structured recognition framework that aligns with your organization’s values and goals. Clearly define the criteria for recognition, ensuring it reflects contributions to informal learning and knowledge sharing.

Step 2: Empower Autonomy in Learning:

Empower employees with autonomy by providing learning experiences that align with diverse styles. Introduce cross-functional projects where teams collaborate, encouraging the exchange of skills and knowledge beyond formal training.

Start with Milestone Acknowledgments:
Break down the informal learning journey into milestones. Develop a system to acknowledge and celebrate employees at each milestone, whether it’s completing a certain number of learning modules or actively participating in knowledge sharing activities.

Step 3: Make Learning Fun:

Utilize training quizzes as delightful bridges between formal and informal learning. Encourage employees to share interesting videos, whether TED Talks, interviews, or tutorial recordings. Gamify post-formal training quizzes through the Learning Management System (LMS) for added engagement.

Start with a Badge and Certificate System:
Implement a badge or certificate system to visually represent employees’ achievements in informal learning. Make these digital badges shareable on internal platforms, encouraging individuals to showcase their expertise. Develop customized badges or certificates based on specific areas of expertise or skills gained through informal learning.

Step 4: Cultivate Diversity In Learning:

Cultivate a diverse learning culture by harnessing existing learning experiences within the organization across different groups of people from different places. Establish communities of practice within the organization, where employees can form learning circles and share insights from others.

Start with Public Recognition in Team Meetings:
Integrate recognition moments into regular team meetings. Showcase the achievements of employees involved in informal learning, providing a platform for acknowledgment among peers.

Step 5: The Best Way To Learn Is To Teach Others

Encourage employees to generate and share learning materials, reducing the perpetual challenge of creating high quality content. Leverage social learning features in your LMS for seamless communication and sharing among learners.

Start with Appreciation Channels:
Create dedicated channels or forums where employees can express their appreciation for their colleagues’ contributions. Encourage the use of these channels for sharing success stories related to informal learning.

Step 6: Harness the Power of Videos and Podcasts:

Promote the use of videos to enhance informal learning experiences, recognizing the dominance of video in the digital age. Encourage employees to listen to industry-relevant podcasts, sharing them through newsletters or dedicated LMS channels.

Start By Recording Interactive Recognition Events:
Organize interactive events focused on recognizing informal learning achievements. Include elements like panel discussions, Q&A sessions, or lightning talks where recognized employees can share insights from their learning journeys.

Step 7: Bridge the Skills Gap Effectively:

Bridge the skills gap effectively by delving into diverse learning landscapes. Implement cross-functional projects that encourage teams to collaborate, facilitating the exchange of skills and knowledge beyond formal training.

Start Integration with Performance Appraisals:
Integrate informal learning achievements into the performance appraisal process. Recognize the correlation between continuous learning efforts and professional development, contributing to overall career growth.

Step 8: Recognize Voluntary Learning Achievements:

Instil a sense of accomplishment by implementing recognition programs tied to self-directed projects. Showcase success stories in companywide meetings, highlighting employees who have excelled through voluntary learning initiatives.

Create a Nomination Committee:
Establish nomination committees comprising of a few representatives from various departments to ensure a fair and inclusive process to select achievers. Rotate committee members periodically to bring in diverse perspectives.

Step 9: Promote Flexible Learning Schedules:

Communicate the importance of allocating time for voluntary learning and empower employees with flexible learning schedules. Implement flexible work hours for employees engaged in self-directed learning, allowing them to balance their professional and educational commitments.

Make Feedback-Driven Enhancements:
Gather feedback from employees on the recognition program, schedules, learning outlets, etc. Use this feedback to enhance the program, making it more responsive to the evolving needs and preferences of the workforce.

Step 10: Foster Collaboration Across Departments:

Organize cross-functional projects and workshops to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange. Initiate a companywide “Solve-A-Thon” where employees from different departments collaborate to solve real world challenges, fostering a culture of inter-disciplinary learning.

Ensure Leadership Involvement:
Involve leadership in the recognition process. Encourage executives to personally acknowledge and congratulate employees during company-wide meetings. Maintain continuous communication about the recognition program. Regularly update employees on upcoming recognition events, new badges, or changes to the recognition framework.

Step 11: Champion Continuous Improvement

Champion continuous improvement based on employee feedback, demonstrating responsiveness to input. Conduct regular feedback sessions focused on learning initiatives, making adjustments based on employee suggestions to enhance the learning experience.

Issue Celebratory Newsletters:
Include a dedicated section in company newsletters to celebrate informal learning achievements. Share success stories, highlight top contributors, and reinforce the importance of continuous learning.