Enterprise Video Library is now a “must have” for Employee Training

Especially in Hybrid Work Arrangement Post COVID-19

San Mateo, CA. September 14th 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a massive shift towards remote work, forcing enterprises across the globe to adapt to a hybrid work model. As companies navigate through this new normal, the need for effective employee training and development has become even more critical.

Hybrid work is here to stay – Mckinsey

In order to bridge the gap created by physical separation and to ensure a successful transition to this hybrid work arrangement, investing in a video library for employee training is an absolute necessity. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why enterprises should prioritize the establishment of a comprehensive learning video library.

As enterprises grow and evolve, the need for scalable training becomes crucial. A video library provides the infrastructure to scale training efforts rapidly, ensuring that new employees can seamlessly access the required training materials. Additionally, recorded training sessions can be stored in the video library as part of the knowledge management system, allowing employees to refresh their knowledge whenever needed and reducing dependency on subject matter experts.

Why need an internal video library when you have Youtube?

A video library allows employees to access training materials that are exclusive to the business, anytime, anywhere. This is of utmost importance in a hybrid work arrangement, where employees may work from different locations and time zones. By providing training videos that can be accessed on-demand, enterprises enable employees to engage with the material at their own pace, increasing productivity and knowledge retention.

Improved Training Efficiency:

A video-based training approach reduces training time by up to 60% compared to traditional methods, allowing employees to quickly acquire new skills and knowledge. Compared to traditional in-person training methods, a video library offers significant cost savings. By reducing or even eliminating the need for travel, accommodation, facilities, and instructor fees, enterprises can allocate their training budgets more effectively. Additionally, the one-time creation of training videos allows for indefinite and repeated use, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Greater Retention of Information

Research suggests that people retain 95% of information presented through video compared to just 10% through reading alone. Video libraries enhance knowledge retention rates by engaging multiple senses simultaneously.

Higher Engagement Levels

Video as a training medium boosts employee engagement, with 92% of individuals acknowledging the impact of video in capturing attention and improving understanding.

Flexibility and Accessibility:

Video libraries enable anytime, anywhere learning. Seventy-five percent of employees prefer accessing training materials at a time that suits them best, ultimately increasing convenience and participation. Video is a powerful medium that captures and retains attention more effectively than textual or auditory training materials. By incorporating interactive elements into training videos such as quizzes, assessments, and Q&A sessions, enterprises can boost employee engagement and enhance the learning experience. This interactive approach fosters active participation, improving knowledge retention and application within the hybrid work environment.

Cost Savings

Traditional training methods incur high costs in terms of travel, accommodation, materials, and instructor fees. Video libraries offer a cost-effective alternative, reducing expenses associated with training programs. Compared to traditional in-person training methods, a video library offers significant cost savings. By reducing or even eliminating the need for travel, accommodation, facilities, and instructor fees, enterprises can allocate their training budgets more effectively. Additionally, the one-time creation of training videos allows for indefinite and repeated use, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Standardized Training

Video libraries ensure consistent messaging and content delivery across different locations and departments, maintaining uniformity of information and skill sets among employees. In a hybrid work environment, it can be challenging to ensure that employees across different locations receive consistent and standardized training. By centralizing training materials in a video library, enterprises can guarantee that all employees have access to the same content regardless of their location. This helps to maintain a high level of quality in training and promotes a more cohesive corporate culture.

Remote Collaboration

In a hybrid work arrangement, video libraries enhance remote collaboration and information sharing, connecting distributed teams and enabling seamless knowledge transfer.

Interactivity and Engagement

Video libraries can incorporate interactive quizzes and assessments, providing real-time feedback to employees and allowing managers to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

On-Demand Training Support

Video libraries serve as a readily available resource for employees to refresh and reinforce knowledge. They contribute to ongoing professional development, ensuring employees are equipped with up-to-date information and skills.

Demonstrated ROI

Companies investing in video-based training observe a 45% improvement in employee productivity and a 47% increase in customer satisfaction. Such returns elucidate the value and impact of video libraries.

In the post-COVID-19 hybrid work arrangement, employee training and development play a pivotal role in maintaining productivity and driving organizational success. Investing in a video library for training purposes allows enterprises to provide accessible, consistent, and engaging training experiences to their employees, regardless of their location. Furthermore, it offers cost efficiency, scalability, and knowledge management benefits. By prioritizing the establishment of a video library, enterprises can adapt to the hybrid work model more effectively and ensure that their employees have the necessary tools to thrive in this new normal.

About CircleHD

CircleHD is a leading provider of enterprise video content management and distribution solutions. The platform enables organizations to securely store, manage, and distribute video content for training, collaboration, and corporate communications. With CircleHD, companies can efficiently create, share, and track video content to improve employee engagement and knowledge retention. If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your company’s productivity, we’d love to chat.

Sales Enablement Guide: How to measure Sales training effectiveness using these core 7 KPIs

A complex task it is, to measure accurately the effectiveness of sales training programs as it involves multiple dimensions. Especially, when it comes to Sales Training, it’s the overall combination of metrics that gives a comprehensive view of the training’s impact.

Here are a few proven ways that you can measure it:

Sales Performance Metrics: The most direct way to measure effectiveness is to compare sales performance metrics before and after the training. This could include metrics like the number of sales, revenue, average deal size, conversion rates, and the sales cycle length. If there’s an improvement in any or all of these metrics after the training, it’s a clear sign that you are on the right track.
Observation: Managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives during their sales interactions and assess whether they’re applying the techniques and skills taught during training.
Assessments and Tests: Use assessments / quizzes within the training to gauge knowledge acquisition to ensure knowledge transfer through training.
Feedback Surveys: Soliciting feedback from the sales team can give you a clear picture of how well the training was received, what was useful, and what areas need improvement.
Employee Retention Rates: High-quality training can lead to increased job satisfaction, which in turn can reduce turnover rates. If you see a decrease in turnover following the implementation of a training program, it might be a sign that your training is effective.
Individual Goal Achievement: Set individual goals related to the training for each sales rep. Monitor their progress towards these goals post-training to evaluate the effectiveness.
Customer Satisfaction Scores: After your sales team has undergone training, monitor any changes in customer satisfaction. Improved interactive skills and techniques applied should lead to happier customers.

Sales Performance Metrics:

Sales Performance Metrics are quantifiable indicators that help a company assess how effective their sales team is at achieving sales targets and contributing to the overall success of the business. By tracking these metrics, companies can identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement within their sales teams.

Here are some commonly tracked Sales Performance Metrics and how to measure them:

Sales Revenue:

This is the total income from sales prior to any deductions for costs or expenses. It’s calculated by multiplying the price at which goods or services are sold by the number of units sold.

Average Deal Size:

This is the average value of each sale. It’s calculated by dividing the total sales revenue by the number of deals closed.

Conversion Rate:

This is the percentage of leads that are converted into actual sales. It’s calculated by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of leads, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.

Sales Cycle Length:

This is the average amount of time it takes to close a deal, from the initial contact with a potential customer to the final sale. This can be calculated by tracking each sales process’s start and end dates and determining the average duration.

Lead Response Time:

This is the average amount of time it takes for your sales team to respond to a new lead. Quicker response times can lead to higher conversion rates.

Quota Attainment:

This metric shows what percentage of your sales team reached their sales goals within a given period. It’s calculated by dividing the number of sales reps that reached their quota by the total number of sales reps.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC):

This is the total cost of acquiring a new customer, including all marketing and sales expenses. It’s calculated by dividing the total costs associated with acquisition by the number of new customers acquired during a certain time period.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV):

This is a prediction of the net profit associated with the entire future relationship with a customer. It’s calculated based on the average purchase value, average purchase frequency, and average customer lifespan.

By regularly monitoring these sales performance metrics, a company can make informed decisions about their sales strategies, make necessary adjustments, and set realistic goals.

Observation

Observation is a practical, hands-on method of assessing sales training effectiveness. This method requires managers or supervisors to observe sales representatives in real-world situations, such as during sales calls, meetings, or client interactions.

Here are a few ways managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives:

Ride-alongs:

This traditional method involves the manager accompanying the sales representative on a client call or visit. The manager can observe firsthand how the representative interacts with customers, presents the product or service, handles objections / situations, and closes the sale.

Shadowing:

Similar to a ride-along, shadowing allows a manager to observe a sales representative during their day-to-day activities. This could be in a physical setting, or in a virtual setting by listening in on sales calls or video meetings.

Live Sales Meetings:

Managers can attend sales meetings, either in person or virtually. This allows them to observe how sales reps present and sell the product, as well as their interaction with clients.

Role-playing Exercises:

Role-playing scenarios during training sessions can provide valuable insights into a representative’s understanding and application of sales strategies and techniques.

Review Recorded Calls/Meetings:

If your company records sales calls or video meetings (with all the required permissions), managers can review these to assess sales rep performance.

Performance Metrics Analysis:

By observing the sales metrics of individual representatives – such as deal closure rates, sales cycle length, and customer feedback – managers can gain insights into the rep’s effectiveness in sales situations.

During these observations, managers should focus on how well the sales representative applies the skills and knowledge gained during training, their ability to handle different sales scenarios, their understanding of the product or service, and their interaction with the customer. This observational feedback should then be communicated constructively to the representative, highlighting areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Assessments and tests

Assessments and tests are important tools in the sales training process to measure the effectiveness of the training and the knowledge and skills acquired by the sales team. Here’s how they can be implemented:

Knowledge Quizzes:

After each training session or module, you can create quizzes that cover the main points of the topic. This can help reinforce learning and provide immediate feedback on how well the material was understood.

Role-play Scenarios:

Role-playing can be an effective way to assess a salesperson’s ability to apply what they’ve learned. This could involve situations like handling objections, delivering a sales pitch, or navigating a difficult customer interaction.

Sales Simulations:

You can use simulations to create a controlled environment where sales reps can practice and demonstrate their skills. For instance, a simulated sales call or meeting can be used to assess how well a rep can apply different sales strategies and techniques.

It’s essential to provide constructive feedback after each assessment. The goal of these assessments and tests is not just to measure knowledge and skills, but also to guide the sales reps towards continuous improvement.

Sales Performance Tasks:

Assign tasks that reflect real-world sales challenges and measure how effectively each salesperson can complete them. This might involve creating a sales strategy for a mock product or prospect, or developing a proposal for a potential deal.

360-Degree Feedback:

This involves gathering feedback from a variety of sources, such as peers, managers, subordinates, and even customers. This can provide a more holistic view of a salesperson’s skills and areas for improvement.

Post-Training Surveys:

Surveys can be used to gather self-assessment data from sales reps about their confidence in applying the skills and knowledge gained from the training. This can also help identify areas where further training may be needed.

Measuring Individual goals

Setting individual goals related to training for each sales rep is a great way to measure and track training impact and their progress over time.

Identify Key Skills and Knowledge Areas:

Based on the content of the training program, identify the key skills and knowledge areas that each sales rep should master. These could include things like product knowledge, communication skills, negotiation techniques, or customer relationship management.

Set Specific, Measurable Goals:

For each key skill or knowledge area, set specific, measurable goals. These should be tailored to each sales rep’s current performance level and potential for improvement. For instance, a goal could be “Increase conversion rate from 20% to 25% over the next quarter” or “Decrease average sales cycle length from 30 days to 25 days”.

Create a Progress Tracking System:

Develop a system for tracking progress towards these goals. This could be a spreadsheet or a feature within your CRM or sales software. Regularly update this system with performance data for each sales rep.

Regular Weekly or BiWeekly Check-Ins:

Schedule regular check-ins with each sales rep to discuss their progress towards their goals. This is a good opportunity to provide feedback, address any challenges, and adjust goals if necessary.

Recognize Achievement:

When a sales rep achieves their goal, make sure to recognize and celebrate their achievement. This can boost motivation and morale.

Review and Refine:

At the end of the training period, review the progress towards each goal and use this information to refine your training program. If certain goals were not met, it may indicate that additional training or support is needed in those areas.

The purpose of setting these individual goals is not only to measure the effectiveness of the training, but also to encourage continuous learning and improvement among your sales reps.

Tracking Customer Satisfaction Scores

Customer satisfaction scores (CSAT) are a popular metric for understanding how satisfied customers are with your product, service, or a specific interaction. These can provide valuable feedback on how well your sales team is performing post-training.

Here are some ways to measure customer satisfaction scores:

Surveys:

After an interaction with a sales representative (e.g., a purchase, customer support call, or an inquiry), send a follow-up survey to the customer. This could be a simple one-question survey asking, “How satisfied were you with your experience?” with a scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).

Net Promoter Score (NPS):

This is another common metric that asks customers to rate on a scale of 0-10 how likely they are to recommend your company or product to others. Customers giving a score of 9-10 are considered promoters, 7-8 are passives, and 0-6 are detractors. The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters.

Customer Effort Score (CES):

This measures how much effort a customer has to put in to interact with your company or product. For instance, after a customer interaction, you could ask, “How much effort did you personally have to put forth to handle your request?” on a scale from 1 (very low effort) to 5 (very high effort). Lower scores are better in this case.

Feedback Forms:

These can be placed on your website or sent via email, allowing customers to provide feedback about their experience.

Social Media Monitoring:

Monitor your social media channels for unsolicited feedback or comments from customers. This can provide insights into their overall satisfaction.

After implementing the sales training, you would monitor these metrics to see if there are improvements in customer satisfaction, which can indicate that the training was successful. It’s important to note that while these scores provide valuable insights, they are just one piece of the puzzle. They should be used in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to give a complete picture of your sales training effectiveness.

Here’s how to measure employee retention rates:

Employee retention rates are a key metric to measure the stability of your sales team and can also indicate the effectiveness of your training programs. A high employee turnover can be costly, while a high retention rate often indicates job satisfaction and effective training programs.

Calculate the Retention Rate:

The basic formula to calculate the employee retention rate is:

(Number of individual sales reps who remained employed for the entire period / Number of sales reps at the start of the period) * 100

For example, if you started the year with 50 sales reps and 45 of them are still with you at the end of the year, your annual retention rate would be (45/50)*100 = 90%.

Track Over Time:

Employee retention should be tracked over time to identify any trends. For example, you might track it annually, quarterly, or monthly, depending on your needs. If you notice a decrease in your retention rate over time, this might indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.

Segment by Team or Role:

You might also consider segmenting your retention rate by team or role. For example, you might calculate separate retention rates for your inside sales team, your field sales team, and your sales management team.

Compare Before and After Training:

If you want to measure the impact of a specific training program on employee retention, you could compare the retention rate for a period before the training to the retention rate for a period after the training. If the retention rate increased after the training, this could indicate that the training had a positive impact.

Remember, while a high employee retention rate is generally a good sign, it’s also important to consider other factors, such as employee performance and productivity. A high retention rate is not beneficial if it’s due to retaining low-performing employees. Therefore, it’s best to use the retention rate in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to get a more complete picture of your team’s performance.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your Sales Training, we’d love to chat.

Secure Live Streaming and Enterprise Webinars for Employee and Internal Use

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, staying connected and informed is essential for the success of any organization. Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a powerful, interactive way for businesses to engage with their employees, streamline communication, and enhance collaboration.

By leveraging Live streaming and Enterprise Webinar for internal use, companies can harness the benefits of modern technology to foster a more connected and productive workforce. In this article, we will explore the use cases and benefits.

Use Cases:

Training and Onboarding

One of the most common use cases for enterprise live streaming and webinars is for training and onboarding new employees. These platforms offer a convenient, cost-effective, and efficient way to deliver training content to employees, regardless of their physical location. Live streaming enables trainers to conduct real-time sessions, while webinars provide an opportunity for employees to revisit the content at a later date, ensuring everyone has access to the same information.

Company Announcements and Updates

Keeping employees up to date on company news and developments is crucial for maintaining a strong corporate culture. Live streaming and webinars offer a platform for executives and managers to deliver important announcements, share updates, and discuss changes in the company’s strategy, all while engaging with employees through Q&A sessions and interactive polls.

Virtual Town Hall Meetings

Town hall meetings are a valuable way for employees to voice their concerns, ask questions, and discuss ideas with company leadership. By hosting virtual town hall meetings through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that all employees have an opportunity to participate and engage with the leadership team, regardless of their location.

Collaboration and Team Building

Live streaming and webinars can also be used to promote collaboration and team building among remote or distributed teams. By hosting virtual workshops, brainstorming sessions, or project updates, employees can work together and build rapport, even when they’re not physically in the same location.

Benefits:

Cost Savings

One of the most significant benefits of using live streaming and webinars for internal communication is the cost savings. With no need to cover travel, accommodation, or venue expenses, companies can allocate resources to other areas of their business.

Increased Employee Engagement

Live streaming and webinars promote a culture of open communication, giving employees the opportunity to actively engage with company leadership and their peers. This increased engagement can lead to higher job satisfaction, improved morale, and better overall retention rates.

Time Efficiency

By delivering content through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that employees receive the necessary information in a timely manner. This can help streamline workflows and reduce time spent on redundant meetings and presentations.

Scalability and Flexibility

Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a scalable and flexible solution for organizations of all sizes. As a company grows, it can easily expand its streaming capabilities to accommodate more viewers and cover additional topics, ensuring that all employees remain informed and engaged.

Security

In an era where data breaches and cybersecurity threats are on the rise, ensuring secure enterprise live streaming is crucial for protecting sensitive company information and maintaining the privacy of employee communications. In this article, we will explore the best practices and key considerations for implementing a secure live streaming solution, exclusively for employees within your organization.

Also keep in mind that security comes in layers. Implement one or more of the following techniques discussed below to secure your internal broadcast from prying eyes.

Choose a Secure Live Streaming Platform

When selecting an enterprise live streaming platform, prioritize security features and ensure that the provider has a solid reputation for protecting user data. Look for platforms that offer end-to-end encryption, password protection, and single sign-on (SSO) integration with your company’s existing identity management system.

Use a VPN or Private Network

To ensure the privacy of your live streaming sessions, use a virtual private network (VPN) or a private network to encrypt your internet connection. This will help prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data transmitted during the live stream.

Implement Access Control

Restrict access to your live streaming events by implementing access control measures. This can include using unique access codes, requiring user authentication, or integrating with your organization’s SSO system. Access control measures help ensure that only authorized employees can view the live stream.

Utilize Password Protection

Password-protecting your live streaming events adds an additional layer of security. Require employees to enter a secure, unique password before gaining access to the live stream. Update passwords regularly to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Monitor and Moderate the Live Stream

Assign moderators to monitor the live stream, ensuring that only appropriate content is shared and that employees adhere to your organization’s guidelines for conduct. Moderators can also help manage interactive features, such as Q&A sessions and chat rooms, to prevent the sharing of sensitive information.

Implement Secure Storage for Recorded Sessions

If you plan to record live streaming sessions for later viewing, ensure that the recorded content is securely stored. Use encrypted storage solutions and restrict access to the recordings using the same access control measures implemented for live events.

Train Employees on Security Best Practices

Educate your employees about the importance of maintaining security during live streaming events. Provide them with guidelines on secure login practices, password management, and how to report suspicious activity or potential security threats.

Regularly Review and Update Security Measures

Continuously evaluate your live streaming security measures and update them as needed to stay ahead of emerging threats. Conduct regular security audits and stay informed about the latest developments in cybersecurity to ensure your organization is protected.

As organizations continue to adapt to the evolving landscape of remote and distributed work, enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a reliable solution for maintaining strong internal communication and fostering employee engagement. By leveraging these tools, companies can enhance collaboration, increase efficiency, and ultimately drive success in today’s competitive business environment.

Secure enterprise live streaming is essential for maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of employee communications. By implementing strong security measures and best practices, organizations can reap the benefits of live streaming while safeguarding sensitive data and protecting employee privacy. With the right combination of technology and security protocols, companies can confidently leverage live streaming as a powerful tool for communication and collaboration within their workforce.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Management and Learning platform can help you engage with your employees better, we’d love to chat.

How is Sales Training different from Compliance Training?

Sales training focuses on developing sales strategies and techniques to increase sales and customer satisfaction, while HR compliance training focuses on teaching employees the laws and regulations related to the workplace, such as labor laws, safety regulations, and anti-discrimination laws. Sales training helps employees understand how to effectively market a product or service and create successful relationships with customers, while HR compliance training helps employees understand how to adhere to workplace policies and regulations.

Sales enablement can use a purpose built LMS such as Trueramp for training reps. An LMS, or Learning Management System, is a platform which allows organizations to create, manage, and track training materials for their sales employees. By using an LMS, sales reps can view and complete training materials at their own pace, and managers can track their progress and performance. In addition, an LMS can also be used to provide sales reps with additional resources and information, as well as to monitor their progress and success.

The best person to lead the training for sales teams is someone who has extensive sales experience and a deep understanding of the product or service being sold. This type of person will be able to provide the most effective insight and guidance to the sales team. They should also have excellent communication skills, be able to motivate and inspire the team, and be an expert on the product or service being sold. The sales trainer should also be able to adjust their teaching style to the different learning styles of the team.

By implementing an effective sales enablement strategy, companies can drive more sales, increase their sales productivity, and maximize their revenue. With the right resources, tools, and training, sales reps can better engage prospects, close deals faster, and increase their sales success.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Democratization of learning at work

The rise of the internet and mobile technologies has led to a democratization of learning at work. With more and more employees working remotely or in different time zones, traditional learning models are no longer feasible. Video is an ideal solution for this problem, as it can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

There are a number of advantages to using video for learning at work. First, it is a very engaging format that can hold attention better than text or audio. Second, it can be easily paused and rewatched, which is perfect for employees who need to learn at their own pace. Third, video can be easily shared, so employees can learn from each other as well as from experts.

How can employees use videos to learn at work from peer to peer?

There are a few things to keep in mind when using video for learning at work. First, make sure the videos are high quality and professional. Second, ensure that the videos are properly captioned so that employees can follow along. Third, consider using video quizzes or surveys to gauge employee understanding.

When used correctly, video can be a powerful tool for on the job learning. By following these tips, you can create videos that employees will watch and that will help them learn new skills and improve their performance.

This video is an excellent resource for sales training. It covers the basics of selling, including customer service, product knowledge, and sales techniques. It also provides helpful tips on how to close a sale and handle objections.

Video for employee onboarding

This employee onboarding video will help your new hires learn about your company culture, values, and expectations. It will also introduce them to their fellow employees and give them a chance to get to know the company better.

When it comes to employee onboarding, there are a lot of different methods that companies use in order to help new hires acclimate to their new roles. Some companies opt for more traditional methods, such as in-person meetings and orientations, while others are starting to use more modern approaches, such as online learning platforms and video conferencing.

There are a lot of advantages to using video for employee onboarding. For one, it’s a great way to connect with remote employees who may not be able to come into the office for an in-person meeting. Additionally, video is a great way to deliver a lot of information in a short amount of time. And, lastly, it’s a great way to create a more engaging and interactive experience for new hires.

If you’re thinking about using video for employee onboarding, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to make sure that the video is high-quality and professional. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that the video is clear and concise, and that it covers all of the important information that new hires need to know. Finally, you’ll want to consider using video as just one part of a larger employee onboarding strategy, and not the only method.

Peer to peer learning

There are a few ways employees can use videos to learn at work from peer to peer. One way is to create a video library of how-to videos that employees can access when they need help with a task. Another way is to use video conferencing to connect employees in different locations so they can collaborate on projects or share knowledge. Finally, employees can use video chat to connect with remote co-workers or customers.

If you’re looking for a modern and effective way to onboard new employees, video is a great option to consider.

Remote work

There are many ways to collaborate remotely, and one way to do so is by using video. This can be done through video conferencing, video chat, or even just by sharing a video of what you’re working on. This can be a great way to stay connected with team members and to get work done more efficiently.

Hackathon / Engagement / collaboration/ ideation

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a video demo for an employee hackathon. First, make sure to keep the video under two minutes. This will help to keep your audience engaged and ensure that your message is clear. Second, focus on demonstrating how your idea can be used to solve a real-world problem. This will help to show how your idea can be impactful and useful for employees. Finally, be sure to end your video with a call to action, such as encouraging employees to participate in the hackathon.

Video can be a powerful tool for on the job learning. When used effectively, it can help employees learn new skills, retain information and improve performance. Here are some tips for using video for on the job learning:

1. Make it engaging: Use engaging visuals and audio to keep employees engaged.

2. Keep it short: Videos should be short and to the point. Employees are more likely to watch and retain information from a short video than a long one.

3. Use multiple examples: Use multiple examples to illustrate a concept. This will help employees better understand and remember the information.

4. Use real-life scenarios: Use real-life scenarios to show employees how the skills they are learning can be applied in the workplace.

5. Provide follow-up: Provide employees with follow-up activities or resources to reinforce what they have learned.

Overall, video is a great way to democratize learning at work. It is engaging, flexible, and easy to share. When used properly, it can help employees learn at their own pace and improve their understanding of complex concepts.

CircleHD offers cloud-based Enterprise learning and engagement solutions that enables businesses to create and share engaging all types of content. Wizy, is one of the products under CircleHD, that has helped businesses to connect with their audiences through video, media, documents along with an engaging and interactive learning experience.

With Wizy, you can

Create, edit, and share videos, medias
Manage, distribute, and measure the impact of your video, media content
Easily find and reuse medias
Integrate videos, medias into your existing L&D programs

If you’d like to learn more about how Wizy can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

OSHA guidelines for protecting returning employees from COVID-19

Many employers have asked employees to return to work. As the COVID-19 pandemic still continues to evolve, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new mandate for employers. The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requires employers to take steps to protect and minimize the impact to workers from exposure to the virus. This is a general summary of guidelines that should not be considered as medical advice.

The ETS includes provisions for engineering and administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and medical surveillance. Employers must also develop and implement a written COVID-19 exposure control plan.

The ETS is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA will continue to monitor the situation and update the ETS as necessary.

The guidelines for employers to develop and implement an effective COVID-19 exposure control plan are as follows:

1. Assess the workplace and identify potential sources of exposure to COVID-19.

2. Identify and implement engineering and administrative controls to minimize exposure.

3. Implement personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines.

4. Establish and maintain a respiratory protection program.

5. Implement work practice and hygiene controls.

6. Educate and train employees on the exposure control plan.

7. Monitor compliance with the exposure control plan.

8. Evaluate the effectiveness of the exposure control plan and make modifications as needed.

Here are some most frequently asked questions

1.Is COVID-19 vaccine mandatory by OSHA. Since when and how to enforce it?

There is no federal mandate from OSHA (as of January 2023) requiring employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. However, some states and localities have adopted their own mandates. Employers may require employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Note: The influenza vaccine has been mandatory by OSHA since 1980. The vaccine must be administered annually.

2. What is OSHA doing to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19?

There is currently no specific OSHA standard for protecting workers from exposure to COVID-19. However, OSHA’s existing personal protective equipment (PPE) standards require employers to provide workers with PPE to protect them from workplace hazards, such as respiratory infections. In addition, OSHA has published guidance on protecting workers from exposure to COVID-19, which recommends that employers take steps to protect workers from exposure, such as implementing engineering and administrative controls, providing PPE, and establishing and maintaining a respiratory protection program.

3. What are the guidelines for employers to protect their workers from COVID-19?

There are many guidelines employers can follow to protect their workers from COVID-19. Some of these guidelines include:

-Encouraging workers to stay home if they are sick

-Encouraging workers to wash their hands often

-Encouraging workers to avoid touching their face

-Encouraging workers to cough or sneeze into their elbow

-Encouraging workers to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

-Providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE)

-Encouraging workers to practice social distancing

4. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

This is a developing topic due to the mutating nature of the virus and new variants continue to evolve. Best to redirect employees to official recommendations from CDC here

5. What should workers do if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19?

Best to redirect employees to call the medical provider for any symptoms that are severe or concerning.

6. What should employers do if they have workers who have been exposed to COVID-19?

If employers have workers who have been exposed to COVID-19, they should have them self-isolate and get tested for the virus. Follow CDC guidelines and seek attention from the medical provider.

7. What are the guidelines for employers to clean and disinfect their workplaces? What are the guidelines for workers to protect themselves from COVID-19?

The CDC has released a series of guidelines for employers to clean and disinfect their workplaces. The guidelines include:

1. Identifying and cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly.

2. Encouraging employees to clean their workstations and equipment.

3. Providing employees with the proper cleaning supplies.

4. Implementing proper ventilation in the workplace.

5. Monitoring employee health and providing prompt medical attention if needed.

8. What are the guidelines for workers to protect themselves from COVID-19?

9. What are the guidelines for employers to provide personal protective equipment to their workers?

OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their workers if the workers are exposed to hazards that could cause injury or death. PPE includes items such as gloves, safety glasses, and earplugs

10. What are the guidelines for employers to conduct health and safety training for their workers?

OSHA has established guidelines for employers to conduct health and safety training for their workers. The guidelines include the following topics:

• Health and safety hazards in the workplace

• Safe work practices

• Personal protective equipment

• Emergency procedures

The guidelines for employers to develop and implement an effective COVID-19 exposure control plan

The first step is to create or update your exposure control plan. This should include a list of all job tasks and corresponding exposure risks. Once you have identified the tasks and risks, you need to determine how to eliminate or minimize the exposure. This may include implementing engineering controls, work practice controls, and personal protective equipment. Once you have determined the controls, you need to train your employees on how to properly use them.

Educate and train employees on how to properly use personal protective equipment

Educate and train employees on how to safely work with and around bloodborne pathogens and how to clean up.

Educate and train employees on how to safely dispose of contaminated materials

Educate and train employees on how to safely handle and dispose of needles and sharps

Educate and train employees on the importance of getting vaccinated against hepatitis B

Educate and train employees on the importance of reporting any exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Educate and train employees on the importance of following the exposure control plan.

There is no proven method to effectively train employees about COVID-19 prevention. The commonly used measures include using clear and concise communication, providing employees with opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback, and using a variety of training methods (such as online resources, in-person training, and hands-on demonstrations) to cater to different learning styles.

We wish you and your employees a very happy new year and look forward to having a successful return to work. If are looking for a platform to train employees, please checkout CircleHD.com

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Post Pandemic Learning Engagement Roadmap for 2023 and beyond.

When the pandemic first hit, many organizations were scrambling to figure out how to keep their employees learning and developing despite the disruptions. Many turned to online videos as a way to keep employees engaged in learning.

Now that we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s time to take a look at how we can learn and develop in the post-pandemic world. Here are a few ideas:

1. Use videos to deliver just-in-time training.

In the past, employees might have been sent to off-site training courses that were expensive and time-consuming. With videos, you can provide employees with training on demand, whenever they need it. This is especially helpful for employees who are working remotely.

2. Create microlearning videos.

With attention spans shorter than ever, it’s important to keep learning videos short and to the point. Microlearning videos are a great way to do this. They can be used to deliver bite-sized pieces of information that employees can easily digest.

3. Make use of video analytics.

With video analytics, you can track who is watching your videos and how long they are watching for. This information can be used to improve the content of your videos and ensure that employees are getting the most out of them.

4. Use videos to promote social learning.

Videos can be used to facilitate social learning, which is when employees learn from each other. This can be done by creating videos that show employees working together to solve problems or by sharing video testimonials from employees about their experiences with a certain product or service.

5. Use videos to create a learning community.

A learning community is a group of employees who share a common interest in learning. You can use videos to create a learning community by sharing videos that employees can discuss and provide feedback on. This is a great way to create an environment where employees can learn from and support each other.

CircleHD is the perfect enterprise video learning platform for businesses who want to provide their employees with the best possible learning and development opportunities. Our platform is easy to use and provides access to a wide range of video content that can be used for training, development, and education purposes. We also offer a variety of features that make our platform the perfect solution for businesses of all sizes.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your sales training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

7 Must-Have Features Your Corporate Training System Needs

When it comes to implementing a corporate training solution at your company, the conversation will inevitably turn to features. Yet, if your company is tied into a cumbersome Learning Management System, you’ll understand why only 39% of users rank their LMS features highly. So what is everyone else looking for that these systems aren’t providing?

In order to gain a better understanding of why organizations are abandoning these legacy systems in droves, you need to get a better picture of the user experience causing the inevitable exodus. If you’re evaluating a new corporate training solution for your company, these ones are what you should be looking for.

Ease of Use

The number one reason why companies shift from an existing LMS or content management system is because of the poor user and administrative experiences that typically accompany these platforms.

Once upon a time, it was par for the course to spend a week in an intense onboarding session or get wrapped up in a lengthy training manual, but we can all agree that is no longer the best use of your team’s time. Choose a corporate training solution that is flexible, intuitive, and easy to learn, with a familiar interface your employees already know so the platform becomes as useful as possible, quickly.

Content Management Tools

Whether you always have training content available, or you’re looking to fill in some gaps, it’s essential your training system also functions as an effective content management tool.

Every day, your employees are spending more time than they should be looking for product sheets, referring back to training modules or all-hands meetings, scouring for team notes, other company assets, and more. Sadly, many organizations turn to solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, or some other file repository to house their content. But this is a big mistake, since it not only makes finding the right documentation next to impossible, it’s time your workers are spending on tasks that don’t yield any ROI and instead cause lots of lost productivity.

But there’s a better way: look for a training solution that not only allows you to sort your content into channels and playlists, but offers the ability to tag and annotate content with contextual documentation so people know what they are looking at, what it’s used for, why it’s relevant, and what changes its undergone.

Security

Of course, having great content management tools is only half the battle: you also need to make sure whatever system you’re using to manage it is secure. In today’s ever-changing digital landscape, it’s important to protect your most sensitive information from attacks and would-be hackers. It’s been reported that “63 percent of companies said their data was potentially compromised within the last twelve months due to hardware- or silicon-level security breach”, which underscores just how essential it is to make sure your solution can protect your most sensitive information.

Of course, there are also other reasons you want to make sure your learning solution is up-to-date on the latest security protocols, from smaller needs like restricting certain content to particular teams or users, to employing the use of end-to-end encryption, SSO, and custom access controls to ensure information is only shared with the personnel you grant permission to.

Integration

Flexibility is absolutely essential to whichever corporate training solution you choose. You’ll not only want the ability to custom brand your portal so it feels like a natural extension of your company, but you’ll want to make sure that your training system integrates with a wide range of best-in-class programs for a frictionless experience.

Support for Mobile Learning

To get the most mileage possible out of your corporate training content, it needs to be as easily accessed as possible. We’ve become such a mobile-first world that you’re doing your enterprise a complete disservice if you’re using a platform that doesn’t allow your employees to have the most convenient experient possible.

Not only does mobile learning result in a 72 percent increase in engagement, but it also results in massive cost savings and higher revenue for companies that implement it. So whether your team is in the office, on the road, or working from home, they’re able to access key company news, training and announcements, at a time that is most convenient for them, from anywhere in the world, even if there’s no wifi connection.

Testing and Assessment

Integrating tests and quizzes into team training materials isn’t a new concept, but it’s one that’s increasingly gaining traction and it’s essential to gauge your team’s understanding of materials and concepts.

But implementing quizzes doesn’t just help you, as a leader, evaluate understanding, it’s also a powerful motivational tool: 83% of those who receive gamified training feel motivated, while “61% of those who receive non-gamified training feel bored and unproductive” (Yikes!).

If you’re not sold on the value of gamification, consider this: when training is engaging for the end-user, they have more of a reason to stick with it. Studies have shown that there is a huge correlation between gamification and training: when elements are added to modules, motivation climbs and boredom drops to just 10%. Those are stats you just cannot ignore.

Reporting

You can’t improve what you don’t know which is why it’s critical to look for a solution that will go beyond basic data points and give you a holistic view of things like:

Which training is being watched
Who is watching it and;
How long they engaged with the content
Where they might be getting stuck
What topics you may need to create more content around

Your corporate training tool should also give you the option to generate custom reports based on data points like channels, data range, department, users, and uploaded media. All of these will give you a better look at the impact your program is having and what the ROI is.

In order for you to get the most mileage out of your corporate training system as possible, it’s time to get serious about the way you enterprise implements, distributes, and handles learning. By making an investment in a good system, you give your workers the tools they need to succeed while improving engagement and growing your company’s bottom line.

5 Things to Look for in a Corporate Training Tool

There isn’t any area of business that hasn’t been affected or disrupted by technology–none so much as corporate training. What used to be a one-time session or seminar has completely transformed into a more customized experience as companies discard the one-size-fits-all model. No longer is training just for distributing knowledge, programs are now more all-encompassing than ever, allowing leaders to more effectively track the progress of their team members and gain insights into what information is being communicated effectively–and what is not.

There’s no doubt that searching for a new tool to add to your organization’s technology stack can be overwhelming and with so many programs out there, it’s difficult to know which key features you should be looking for. If your enterprise is looking to change its training tool, these features are an absolute must-have in a corporate training solution.

1. Video support

It’s a well-known fact that many corporate learning management systems and training solutions are not very friendly to multimedia files. They are usually stored in a manner that isn’t conducive to the user experience if they’re able to be stored at all.

The fact is, people are more interested in watching video training material than reading lengthy manuals, that’s why it’s become the new standard for corporate learning. According to Forrester Research, employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than to read documents, emails, or web articles. More than that, it’s radically more effective when it comes to knowledge retention; the average worker will have forgotten 65% of the material they’ve covered within just 7 days of completion. After 6 months, that number jumps to 90%.

While many people talk about the benefits a for the trainee, oftentimes, the conveniences a video training platform can offer leaders are overlooked. Some of these include:

Steep cost-savings: With video, you don’t need to pay for travel or incur extra expenses for personnel: you just push play. This can net some serious savings for your organization. For example, when Microsoft converted to video training from the standard classroom model, they reduced the cost from $320 per person to just $17 per person. That’s about $13.9 million per year they got back.
More content in less time: If you choose a platform that has native recording tools which allow you to create content directly from your computer or mobile device, that module can be live in a matter of minutes, versus a written asset or presentation that can take weeks to produce.
Consistent messaging: When it comes to conducting training sessions, there are about a million variables that will decide if your employees will all be getting the same information. Sometimes it varies by who is conducting the session, other times certain information will be covered more in-depth than other material. Either way, putting your training on a video ensures everyone is getting consistent information.

When it comes to evaluating a corporate learning solution’s multimedia capabilities, you’ll need to ask yourself:

Is the content able to host multiple types of files (i.e. .mov, .pdf, .avi, .mp4, and so on)?
Does the solution have native recording tools?
Are you able to create training tracks and playlists?
Is video content optimized for mobile devices?
How discoverable is content after its created?
How much flexibility do you have around categorizing and tagging content?
How much control do you retain over your content (note: this should be a very serious concern for your organization, especially if you’re considering using an external resource like YouTube or Vimeo for your content. We don’t recommend it)?

2. Mobile-friendly

Mobile has surpassed desktop as the primary way to access the internet, so it’s critical that whatever training tool you choose be optimized for smartphones. Some corporate training solutions will already have an app that you can custom brand, but many force you to access your company’s portal through a regular internet browser that is not mobile-responsive, rending the product completely useless to anyone that wants to access training on-the-go.

Whether you have just a few employees or thousands, it’s next to impossible to get everyone in the same place at the same time. That’s why mobile compatibility is key. Not only does it give your team members anther way to access information at any time (thus removing one of the peskiest barriers to adoption), but it also lets them easily refer back to the information they may have forgotten or missed.

3. Enterprise-grade security protocols

It’s no secret that data is very vulnerable to attacks and privacy. We hear about it every day. To avoid becoming a statistic or worse, a PR disaster, your content needs to be protected by the most up-to-date security protocols available. That doesn’t just mean end-to-end encryption, either. You should confirm with your vendor that:

Data is stored in a SOC-1 facility
The platform allows you to set custom access controls for each piece of content
Advanced features like IP restriction and whitelisting are enabled
The solution utilizes two-factor authentication and single sign-on (SSO) protocols to verify user access to the training platform.

4. Gamification abilities

In order to accurately gauge your team’s understanding of the material and concepts, there needs to be an assessment engine in the corporate training tool. Gamification isn’t a new concept but it’s one that’s increasingly being applied in training programs. 83% of those who receive gamified training feel motivated, while 61% of those who receive non-gamified training feel bored and unproductive (Yikes!).

Some ways companies use gamification include:

Tests and quizzes attached to relevant training modules
Badges
Points granted
Virtual or physical rewards for accomplishments
Leaderboards
Levels

In addition to these tactics, some platforms will even allow you to generate completion certificates once an employee has finished a certain module. A good use case for this might be for a particular software that’s used at the company or to show a team member has completed diversity training.

If you’re not sold on the value of gamification, consider this: when training is engaging for the end-user, they have more of a reason to stick with it. Studies have shown that there is a huge correlation between gamification and training: when elements are added to modules, motivation climbs up to 83%, and boredom drops to just 10%. Those are stats you just cannot ignore.

5. Robust reporting and analytics

You can’t improve what you don’t understand and the sad reality is that many training platforms don’t give you the analytical information you need to make intelligent, data-driven decisions about how to improve your training program. That’s why it’s s critical to look for a solution that will go beyond basic data points and give you a holistic view of things like:

Which training is being watched
Who is watching it and;
How long they engaged with the content.

The bottom line is that in order to stay competitive in business, it’s time to get serious about the way your enterprise facilitates training by investing in a knowledge platform that works.

If you’re looking for a corporate training tool that can help you increase knowledge retention across your organization, keep employees engaged, and increase your bottom line, we’d love to speak with you. Contact us for a free demo.

Training Remote Employees With a Powerful Internal Communication Tool

Remote work is a hot topic right now, mostly because it’s been propelled into the spotlight in response to the coronavirus pandemic. While the circumstances surrounding the new working normal aren’t ideal, telecommuting can actually have some pretty stellar effects on your staff. It’s been reported that remote work produces happier employees, reduced turnover, and overall positive effects on most company cultures. But anyone who has had to move their operation online knows that the process doesn’t come without challenges–particularly when it comes to keeping training consistent and accessible.

There’s no doubt that remote training comes with a unique set of challenges, including:

Lack of face-to-face interaction
Barriers to information
Distraction
Isolation
Technical difficulties

So how can you set up your organization to be well-prepared and equipped to deliver the most effective training experience possible?

Think about how you want to deliver information

When it comes to delivering effective training to your team members, it’s common for many leaders to be a bit short-sighted in their delivery model. Many turn to live, synchronous learning sessions where everyone participates simultaneously on a web-conferencing tool but this approach is limited. It forces trainers into a situation where they must:

a.) create a single time slot where all parties attend or;

b.) conduct several sessions over the course of days or weeks, which understandably eats into the time they could be spending elsewhere.

Both approaches are cumbersome because they force the trainer to spend an inordinate amount of energy on coordinating details, but they also waste time on a process that is typically repeatable and lose message consistency in the process.

Of course, with everything going on, there’s also a very high probability that many of your workers aren’t living in their usual circumstances as well, likely contending with childcare, homeschooling, and other distractions in addition to their usual workload. This in mind, an asynchronous learning model would be a far better solution for your enterprise training. This model allows learners to access content, assessments, and communications on their own time.

But even when there isn’t a pandemic going on, asynchronous learning still has many distinct advantages over live classes. It gives employees more control over their training experience, allows them to absorb material at their own pace, fits around their busy schedule, and allows them to interact at a time that works best for them, regardless of geographical location.

Evaluate and choose a powerful employee engagement platform

Showing you the value of asynchronous learning is really only half of the battle. When you’re implementing this type of arrangement for your enterprise training, you’ll also need to consider how you store, share, and keep your company’s proprietary information secure.

In this type of situation, many leaders turn to company intranets or LMS for their needs, but this approach is misguided. Not only are these systems typically cumbersome and not equipped to deliver information in a user-friendly manner, but they don’t take into account that the way we communicate is changing: It’s no longer effective to just email or Slack something and assume it’s seen, you need a central repository where all information is stored that is easily accessible on all devices.

Modern communication tactics aren’t the only way intranets and LMS fall short for trainers, though. Many leaders have reported difficulty when uploading new content to these portals and even more have cited poor user-experience as a significant barrier to adoption for their learners.

Just a few ways these solutions fall short in the UX area include:

Nightmare navigation
Lack of personalization
Inaccurate labeling and tagging
Annoying pop-ups
15+ clicks before you can start learning
Video not supported natively
Complicated SCORM training requires multiple toolchains

When it comes to evaluating corporate communication software for your enterprise training, you’ll want to consider several things:

Is the corporate learning solution easy-to-use and simple to learn?
How much time will it take until the employee training platform becomes useful to your team members? Using things like LMS becomes a time-consuming, costly endeavor that causes disruption at your organization, sometimes taking up to a year to implement. You’re better off finding a solution that is quick to start, intuitive, and has a familiar interface many of your workers may already be familiar with (this is the part where we promote CircleHD for your consideration).
What level of security do you need? It’s very likely you will be sharing sensitive information in your training program, so you want to make sure whatever you use utilizes the latest enterprise-level security protocols to keep your information safe from prying eyes. Not only that, but you want to find a solution that allows you to take advantage of access controls–after all, the information in one training module may not be suitable for all departments or team members so it’s critical to be able to restrict information to the relevant parties.
Is it mobile-friendly? That advent of the smartphone has exponentially changed the way we create and consume content and it’s essential that your team members are able to access their training modules from their device, no matter where they are. Not only should you look for a solution that has a dedicated app, but you should also check to ensure browser compatibility.
What type of analytics does the platform give you? You can’t improve what you don’t understand but, the truth is, many of the solutions on the market today don’t really give you enough data points to paint a picture of what’s going on, they just give you enough information to say they offer analytics as a feature. Look for a platform that provides you with information like:
- What content is being accessed
- When content is being accessed
- How often the content is accessed
- Who is viewing it and for how long
- Where additional training may be needed

When you offer your workforce effective onboarding and training, you’re giving them the tools and skills they need to be successful at their job. At the end of the day, intranets and LMS are not designed for this use and you will be much happier if you find a solution that is focused on securely delivering training to your remote workforce.

Gather your existing learning materials

If you’re a training leader, you’re likely to have a large backlog of training materials stored in multiple places, which can make transferring them to a new portal seem like an exhausting, insurmountable task.

In this instance, going back to basics is the best way to address the task at hand: make a spreadsheet and take inventory of all your existing assets noting the name of the item, what type of file it is, a short description of its use, and a link to where it is stored. By putting together a holistic picture of your assets, you’re able to get a better understanding of what you have, what’s outdated, and what needs to be archived.

Assess where you may have gaps in your training

The best part about the aforementioned exercise is that it doesn’t just enable you to see what training assets you have, you can also gain insight into what you don’t have. Perhaps you noticed during the inventory step that some assets are out of date, don’t have accurate or complete information on them, or address some new processes or functionalities your product has. This is a great time to note the updates that need to be made, but it’s also a good time to strategize ways you can update your existing training with next-gen technology or other information that may make it have a bigger impact.

Start by surveying employees who have gone through specific training or onboarding to see if there were any pieces of content they found particularly helpful or if there was anything they felt missing. Be sure to also assess materials for any knowledge gaps, looking for things your team could use more information on or any new trends in your industry they should be educated about.

Of course, finding these shortcomings is one thing, creating content to fill the void is a whole other beast. Often times other teams, such as marketing, usually need to be involved in the process, which can create less-than-ideal bottlenecks for you. If you’re using an effective internal content management platform though, you’ll find that it has native recording tools that let you create videos for key information, which is exponentially quicker to put together than a lengthy document (and wildly more effective).

Put together a training calendar and pre-class checklist

When you run a remote training program, you’re managing content, the environment, and the overall experience for a lot of people, which can be a big responsibility. It may sound old-school but checklist or agenda of modules and due dates will go a long way to ensure nothing slips through the cracks and essential steps are followed. You may even want to go a step further and create a sense of urgency to finish a program by implementing a training schedule for learners.

Define the support process

Knowing who is going to provide support for technological hiccups is an important aspect of the remote training planning process. At a minimum, you should have a member of your IT support team prepped on what happens if a serious issue occurs, and try to keep them on call. (Hot tip: if you’re using a platform like CircleHD, you should have access to 24/7 support for anything that goes awry.)

Deliver training modules

You’ve gone through all the pre-planning. You’ve selected your platform and identified what content is going to be used. Now, it’s time to actually deliver that training. The good news: if you selected an adequate corporate learning solution, this part should be incredibly simple. You’ll just need to upload your courses, set pertinent access controls, and invite employees. Make sure accessing the portal is as simple as possible. You may even want to put together a “cheat-sheet” for basic functions.

Engage your learners

Since your asynchronous training is being conducted remotely, you need to go that extra mile to ensure employees are engaged with and understanding the content. Not only can you encourage knowledge retention by attaching tests and quizzes to your training modules, but you can also reward your employee’s training efforts with a build-in certification function that automatically issues awards upon course completion.

Another great way to increase learner engagement is through the activation of gamification features like leaderboards, which can be used to facilitate friendly competition amongst colleagues, or just to provide some milestones as employees progress through the program.

Make a connection a priority

Of course, you want to use your employee training platform to save time, but don’t forget that part of creating an effective working environment means reaching out and offering yourself as a resource to your team members.

Studies show that employees who are are emotionally disconnected from their companies and may actually be working against their employers’ interests; they are less productive, are more likely to steal from their companies, negatively influence their coworkers, miss workdays, and drive customers away.

Set your workers up to be the best they can be by empowering them with the knowledge they need to succeed and the support to do it.

Measure performance and results

When determining if your training efforts are making an impact, you need to go much further than just completion percentages. Be sure to track the metrics we mentioned earlier and use that information to create and distribute content that is meaningful to your audience, which will make you radically more effective in the long run.

When it comes to remote training, don’t let “out of sight” mean “out of mind”. Equip your remote teams with the powerful corporate communication software they need to make onboarding, training, and continuous learning and cornerstone of your company experience.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help your enterprise implement a training program that is effective and propels your employees to higher levels of success, we’d love to chat with you. You can also read more about how some of the biggest companies in the world are using CircleHD in their own communication initiatives.