Why does training need to change behaviour? It used to be that training was arranged to provide knowledge, but is knowledge enough by itself? Not exactly. It’s the behaviour change that will really make a difference; it’s the proof that the learner has gained the skill, expanded their role, and have noted what they’ve learnt. And it isn’t just beneficial to the employee; any new skills inevitably help drive a business forward too. However, if the training doesn’t change behaviour then it’s wasted working hours for everyone, and a lost opportunity.
To achieve this, the training has to be designed to allow for, and encourage, the change. But how? For starters, you need to take accountability. This means abandoning the belief that learning is a ‘tick box’ exercise and moving away from focusing solely on the number of learners completing the course regardless of the actual impact. Instead, you have to put the learner at the front and centre of the training. Do this you’ll start creating training that has the impact you want, an impact that the business can gain from.
Here are six tips to help you do just that.
1. Training is all about the learner’s needs
If you take away anything from this article, let it be this: To change behaviour, address the learner’s needs. The way to discover these needs is through analysis. Don’t just assume you know what they should be learning – find out. Talk to them. Ask them what are you trying to do? What can’t you do efficiently or effectively? Then create or curate a solution that will meet their needs and provide the tools, insights, and information they require to fix their problem.
If the training meets the learner’s needs then it will be relevant. And the importance of relevance has been highlighted by the pandemic, when training was focused on what was relevant was hugely popular. That is what makes it appealing, which in turn will help drive the behaviour change. If they need and want it, then they will use it.
2. The 3 C’s: compelling, constructive, convenient
Three words to strive towards are compelling, constructive and convenient, and there are numerous ways to get there. Bite-size learning ticks the convenient box as it allows the learner to dip in and out as and when they need to. Informal learning is another approach – this can be a collection of resources they can browse through that will meet their challenges. Though, if taking this approach, consider carefully how the resources are collated, as it can be overwhelming and unhelpful if they aren’t easy to navigate.
Making sure the training is relatable and relevant meets constructive, as it will truly help them get where they need to be. It also helps tick the compelling box, as anything that is relevant and useful immediately becomes more compelling. But compelling can also be met by considering how it’s designed and built – is it interactive, interesting, or challenging?
3. Consider your pre- and post-training approaches
Don’t underestimate the power of these. L&D professionals focus so much on training that they forget about the other two aspects – pre-training and post-training.
This could be a whole piece in itself (and, indeed, we’ve done an article in our report The Importance of Investing in your Learners) – but essentially in pre-training you work to get the learners on board. You can address their barriers – common examples are a lack of time, or belief that it isn’t relevant – as well as build up their intrigue around the training itself. It’s a great opportunity to get them excited and convince them that it’s for them. It can also be a time for them to ask any questions or concerns they may have about it. Overall, this part of the training can be extremely powerful – if they’ve bought into it before it happens, they’ll be more likely to go in with an open and ready mind and actually complete the training.
Post-training, however, is all about cementing and embedding the learning. We want to beat the forgetting curve! Time needs to be set aside to make sure the learner understands the learning and can use it correctly. There are different ways of doing this, and it’s best to use a varied selection. You can have manager 1-2-1 meetings, use quizzes, share success stories and carry out exercises to make sure the training is being applied to their role – there’s nothing like ‘doing’ to help with learning!
4. Use new technologies where relevant
Some training (but not all) will benefit from some of the latest technology, such as AR, VR and 3D graphics, which simulate real-life situations. They can be effective in many topics from customer support to complex equipment training. These technologies allow the learner to learn, fail, and make mistakes, as well as repeat, repeat, repeat – all in the comfort of their own home, workplace or educational environment. It’s the repetition and learning from mistakes that makes them so effective as it really helps embed the learning. We’ve done a great article on how to utilise these technologies, which you can check out here.
5. Make training part of something bigger
Though training is helpful to the business and helps develop skills it needs to keep moving forward, your employees are more likely to buy into if they feel it’s part of something bigger. The younger generation especially like to know that it will help their career progression, and that it is something that is truly beneficial to them; therefore, don’t forget to highlight those benefits too.
6. Ask learners for feedback
Lastly, aim to continuously improve your training offering. It’s not a one-off thing. Talk to the learners and see what worked for them, what didn’t and then you can take those findings and apply them to your next training piece and make it even better next time.
When creating training, L&D professionals need to keep an eye on the bigger picture. It’s only when they look into the effects and see that the learning is influencing both the employees’ work, and the businesses’ organisational metrics and results, that they will really see the value of putting in the effort needed to create training which truly changes behaviour.
To discover more tips and insights into developing a compelling and behaviour-changing L&D programme, download our Evolution of L&D reports: Creating Training to Suit the Learner and The Importance of Investing in your Learners. And find out here how to keep learner attention whilst completing learning experiences.
