How does personalized learning support new talent?
Every 15 years or so, a new generation of employees enters the workplace. But where in earlier years younger employees would adapt to the habits and modus operandi of the older people, the tables have now turned. The latest generation to enter the labor market, namely Gen Z, is not adapting to the old ways, but changing them drastically. To keep up with them and adapt to their needs, forward-thinking organizations use personalized learning. But this is far from a trend with no real purpose. In this article, you will discover 6 benefits of personalized learning that will convince you to implement it in your business sooner rather than later.
6 Benefits of Personalized Learning Your Organization Needs
1. Save time
Are you ready to stop wasting resources on training programs that bore your employees and add no value to their performance? There’s no doubt that developing a customized learning experience for your staff can be time-consuming, but the long-term outcomes will undoubtedly reward you. Personalized learning uses the unique interests and learning preferences of your employees to create learning materials that immediately capture their interest. In this way, employees grasp new concepts and complete training programs faster. In addition, personalized learning targets the right modules to each learner so they don’t waste time training on skills they already possess.
2. Promote ownership and autonomy
Another important benefit of implementing personalized training is that it makes employees feel empowered. Where previously they would receive cookie-cutter training programs that they were required to complete, they can now use their voices and take control of the learning process. Specifically, they are free to express their preferences regarding the form of the training material, learning styles, communication methods, pace, and so on. This unprecedented freedom not only drives engagement, but also guarantees better learning outcomes as it instills accountability among employees. In other words, when employees are given the autonomy to shape their learning path, employees naturally take ownership of their progress and success.
3. Increase Employee Engagement
Personalized learning enables employees to curate training paths relevant to their interests, current positions and related issues, as well as the goals they have for the future. Learning with a purpose, as opposed to out of obligation, leads to learning that is valuable and highly engaging. Employees realize that the training they undergo will benefit their professional development and journey within your organization and therefore feel much more motivated to complete it and even look for additional skills they can improve. In addition, engaged and motivated employees perform better, as they are less likely to become disengaged or distracted.
4. Increase productivity
Speaking of increased performance levels, a proven benefit of personalized learning programs is that they make employees more productive. The reason behind this is quite simple. When you take the time to understand each employee’s unique needs, gaps and preferences, you can identify real problems and come up with tailored solutions. For example, instead of having an entire department follow an extensive training program, you can match each module to the employees who will really benefit from it. In this way, your employees make necessary improvements that fit their roles and help them become more efficient.
5. Adapt to learner needs
Flexibility is the one benefit of personalized learning that makes it most desirable for younger employees. Gen Z is not used to the typical eight-hour office workday. They can work remotely, intermittently or while commuting. Therefore, the right training program will have to adapt to their schedule and offer modules of shorter and longer duration to accommodate their preferences. Personalized learning achieves this while also allowing employees to learn independently and at their own pace. This way, they don’t have to rush the process and miss essential information or drag it out and end up getting disconnected.
6. Improve knowledge retention and implementation
Generation Z employees have grown up in a world of personalized experiences, which is why personalized learning is the best choice for them. Creating a learning experience that specifically caters to your knowledge gaps greatly increases completion rates. In addition, as the employee is trained using their preferred learning style, knowledge retention becomes more effective and long-lasting. Additionally, personalized learning programs often include experiential learning activities that allow employees to practice their skills in an environment that almost perfectly simulates real-world situations.
Closure
The new generation of employees is asking for adaptation in the workplace. If you want to attract new talent and also keep your existing employees satisfied, it’s time to leave one-size-fits-all approaches in the past. Personalized learning enhances corporate training by focusing on the learner and shaping the process around their needs and preferences. Hopefully, the benefits of personal learning we’ve described in this article have helped you realize why it’s an investment worth making.
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