The days of whiteboard training and mandatory lectures are long over: The workplace is now being saturated by millennials who, quite frankly, expect more from the training experience. Companies with a younger workforce need to bring their training methods in the new millennium, too. By taking a few cues from your highly social, endlessly competitive millennial employees, you might be able to hold their attention – for a few minutes anyway.
Social-Based Training
Millennials do everything with an audience. Whether it’s posting breakfast on Instagram or tweeting a workout, it’s clear that you’ll capture more attention when you base learning on a social foundation. A training-based competition, for example, can inspire your workforce to get involved. The same could be said for training in a partner- or group-based setting. By introducing a social aspect, learning becomes reminiscent of the ways your workers like to share – you might even get a few Twitter shoutouts.
mLearning Applications
Ask a millennial about the three things they’d take with them on a deserted island and you’d probably hear, “My phone, a charger – and a generator.” It’s a rare 20-something year old that you see without a smartphone permanently glued to their hand, so use that to your advantage. Companies send updates, videos, and short quizzes via text or email to result in on-the-go, mobile learning, and perpetual training without a lot of extra effort.
Blended Approach
Finally, give your millennials some credit: They’re usually willing to do the work, especially if it’s engaging. A blended learning approach that utilizes media sources and eLearning at home, paired with some in-class discussion can easily highlight who grasps the material, and who’s falling behind. It’s an excellent way to analyze employees and decide whether or not your training tactics are working for your workforce.
