The size of the remote workforce has grown significantly over the past few years and even with many organizations shifting back to on-site work, the remote population will remain large enough to change the ways organizations manage many of their processes, procedures and workflows. Learning and Development teams became acutely aware of this when they could no longer leverage in-person classroom training for an extended period of time. Companies have had to reimagine and reengineer their entire strategy and approach to learning.
To adapt, companies need a strategy to upskill their people for the digital environment. Additionally, the learning function has to undergo a transformation as well, acquiring new skill sets that keep them ahead of the curve. However, despite the pandemic’s impact, there is still a heavy reliance on ILT, with nearly half of companies saying more than 50% of their learning is ILT.
Companies will have to develop long-term strategies for meeting the needs of on-site learners, those who work from home, and those who alternate between the two. Approaches to formal, informal and experiential learning must evolve rapidly to meet the new dynamic needs of the workforce. Organizations failing to consider these changes face an uphill battle in preparing for the future. As it is, just 36% of companies currently consider themselves in a good position to develop the skills the business will require in the future.
This doesn’t just mean buying new technology. Technology will play a huge role in the hybrid workforce, providing more digital and virtual learning opportunities, but there has to be a top-down re-think of the learning strategy to make those technologies effective. The hybrid workforce requires a look at strategy, content, L&D Skill sets, and technology – not just one element.
In an upcoming webinar, I will be joined by Ryan Morris, Onboarding Specialist at SAP Litmos, to talk about the new dynamics of the hybrid workforce and what it means for L&D. We will discuss challenges and strategies for success, as well as look at some hybrid learning environment examples. Please join in the discussion, which will include the rise of more informal and experiential learning and tips on keeping remote workers more connected and engaged in learning.
–David Wentworth, Principal Learning Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
@davidmwentworth
