Few things in life are as inevitable as change. Whichever of life’s many great paths we choose to tread, we cannot avoid change and must accept that things come and go. Nowhere is this truer than in the dynamic world of business, where the need to be ahead of the game to outfox competitors and satisfy customers is the ongoing challenge. Overcoming that challenge is only possible with a workforce that is ready to adjust.
It’s a good thing then, that eLearning training programs are able to help organizations prepare their employees for changes. Whether it’s the size of the business that has grown, technology has forced a change or any other reason of the many possibilities out there.
In this article, we’ll explain how change management can be administered through training programs to help employees adjust to their new environment.
What Does Change Management Mean?
Let’s take a moment to make ourselves aware of what change management actually is. Change management is a really big umbrella term for the process of corporations supporting individuals and teams during a period of change within that corporation.
Change is necessary but can be traumatic for people in an organization, hence the need for support. New skills must be learned, ways of working understood and experience gained for something totally new. This can be dramatic with disruptive consequences. It’s for that reason that change should be managed.
Provide a Human Touch
Change management is all about ensuring that each individual within an organization is catered for directly. Their skills, educational background, and workplace experience are analyzed to decide upon the skill gaps that could be filled or the wealth of knowledge that can be improved even more to prepare them for a higher level position.
For the individual, this is a great opportunity. But don’t forget to speak to the individual.
If a training program planner is about to devise eLearning courses or programs for me, I’d sure want to be consulted beforehand.
The best way to make sure that the training you’re providing is both effective and suitable is by talking to the employee. This is particularly important during a time of upheaval in an organization when individuals can feel most adrift.
Make sure each employee is involved in a process that will bring great changes for them.
Promote Realistic Benefits
Business organizations aren’t charities. Staff members are paid to work on the behalf of the company and are expected to perform accordingly. But most companies do also care about their employees. For this reason, it’s important to include realistic benefits for individuals within a training program.
As we’ve already touched on, employees can feel adrift during overhauls. Their previous positions might be lost and they are expected to take on new responsibilities by drawing on skills they’ll be taught. Because of this uncertainty, a training program should communicate the real-world advantages of the training and explain how the individual will benefit from it.
Training should offer a window into a better world for the employee with the realistic possibility of job advancement, or in exceptional cases, even promotion, based on the successful application of new skills learned.
Don’t offer training simply to manage the change; make it work for everyone.
Offer the Reins
Training programs that are suitably administered offer a sense of control to employees during the period of change. Handling the change will be so much easier if employees are on your side. Giving employees a sense of ownership over their training increases levels of commitment and keep them engaged in the task ahead.
One way to do this is to involve employees in thinking of solutions to problems of the business, and then using training to instil the necessary skills to resolve them. In this way, the loss they may be feeling during the change will be taken care of, and the skills that employees garner will help the business in the future.
It’s that a company keeps their employees happy, to ensure company retention and staff morale. Giving staff some control over the training they receive creates a personal connection between training and staff member.
Hammer it Home
Training in the name of change management isn’t only an opportunity for employees but can serve as a way for organizations to reinforce the message of change too.
If the change is a sweeping work culture one, use the training programs to bolster the message of a new way of working. If the change is one of focus – perhaps to put a greater emphasis on customer service – then point this out regularly.
Use this opportunity to underscore the change that is happening.
Why is Change Management so Important?
The changing of a company’s working can be stressful for employees, and why wouldn’t it be? When we’re comfortable in situations, jumping into new things can seem a little scary.
Managing this change through online training programs eases the worries of workers. It improves the morale of staff, treating them as individuals and promoting the care for their well-being.
When a business changes its outlook or structure, the skills that are required for its continued success running will change too and training helps to make sure there are fewer skill shortages in important areas.
Using eLearning training to guide employees through organizational changes takes advantage of a period that could otherwise be disruptive to upscale worker skills and improve company dynamism. Don’t miss out.
