Our current crisis is causing us to rethink how we can train our people when we cannot meet together in person. There’s no question that we have to get creative in our programming. And we can’t “pause” training and development until we “get back to normal” because we don’t know yet when or if we’ll ever get “back to normal.”

Once the lockdowns are over, and we are finally living in a post-Covid world – what will training look like? Will we be able to resume face-to-face training? How can employees and learners train if they can’t have in-person facilitated, group-based training sessions that have been the norm for years?

The answer to these questions will likely take quite a while to figure out because it’s still not clear what the traditional workplace will look like in a post-Covid world. But once we get to the other side of this pandemic, we will probably see a shift in our definition of “training.”

New Mindset

For years we’ve heard that working from home was unrealistic for most businesses. And that face-to-face, in-person was training was the only way to really learn. But thanks to the pandemic, we’ve realized that neither of those statements is true.

Most companies were unprepared for remote working and remote learning – they had to adapt quickly to this new reality. And that’s exactly what they’ve done! There will always be businesses that need in-person interaction. However, one of the most lasting effects of Covid-19 will be the end of thinking that “face-to-face is better.”

For most businesses, online training will likely become their new normal. In a post-Covid world, in-person training will no longer be considered the most effective. Instead, it will merely be one method used for training along with other effective approaches. Virtual training no longer means video with printouts and quizzes – it’s human experiences that are participatory and social.

Developing Digital Skills

This new mindset will also impact how training occurs and how new skills are obtained. The traditional model is heavily focused on either group-based, instructor-led training (ILT) or webinars that are often little more than slides and a Q&A session.

The traditional webinar will likely present instructional content in a more personal way than pre-pandemic learning models permitted – and it will refocus around virtual, group-based experiences.

Thanks to the pandemic, the traditional instructional model will shift to more modern thinking about mobile-first learning using smartphones, tablets, and personal computers.

Now that many face-to-face training programs have been adapted for virtual learning, will we ever return to in-person training?

In all likelihood, virtual learning will continue for quite some time. After all, it requires less travel and is budget-friendly. And we’ve learned how to run highly interactive, engaging activities that still accomplish our learning goals.

But we can’t overlook the benefits of in-person training.

So, when you resume face-to-face training, don’t forget about the virtual learning tools you’ve been using. Incorporating these tools once learners are together in person can help you maintain social distancing and allows participants to discover learning for themselves.

We anticipate the world of training and development will be more blended than we ever thought before – and we’ll adapt to using virtual tools while still meeting in person.

Final Thoughts

Covid-19 drastically changed the way we do business. Now that the majority of people work from their homes, virtual learning has skyrocketed. Companies need to continue adapting their training strategies, but you shouldn’t lose focus on in-person training and development. Human interaction and engagement are still key factors in how people learn.

Contact us today if you need help rethinking or redesigning your training strategies.

You can read more about training and development in a post-pandemic workplace here.