By Mark Nelson
Welcome back to part three of our four-part series exploring the power of microlearning apps in building successful leaders. Previously, we examined the shortcomings of traditional in-person leadership training and why microlearning is so effective in employee training. Today we’ll explore the necessity of simplicity when implementing microlearning trainings to create a learning culture.
Less is More
A “Less is More” mantra in the workplace is not about minimizing effort; it is about optimizing impact. This is done by simplifying the complex. Simplification provides clarity and encourages organizations to streamline systems, making them more effective and easy to use. When companies embrace simplicity, they enhance organizational efficiency and foster a workplace culture that values clarity, innovation and adaptability.
One way to have a significant impact on employees is to create a culture of learning, innovation and improvement. Company leaders have a unique opportunity to use simplicity when developing their own learning cultures to build the next generation of leaders.
What is a Learning Culture?
A learning culture is a mindset within an organization that places learning and growth at the center of how employees manage their time, perform their roles and interact with co-workers. In a learning culture, individuals not only actively seek opportunities for self-development, but also explore ways to improve the company as a whole.
Conversely, organizations that lack a learning culture often have employees who equate “learning” with tedious, unproductive compliance training. As a result, employees lack an awareness (or even an interest) in opportunities for personal development and career enhancement.
Why Do Companies Need a Learning Culture?
Henry Ford once said, “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave, is not training them and having them stay.” Companies that do not promote a learning culture run the risk of being outperformed by their competition who did invest in learning.
According to a study by Deloitte, companies that invest in a learning culture experience 37% higher productivity and are 92% more likely to innovate. Unsurprisingly, these companies are also 46% more likely to be first to market.
A culture of learning is becoming more essential to employees as well. A reported 56% of workers rate career growth as more important than pay, but at the same time, 47% are dissatisfied with their current training programs. The “old-school approach” of taking a week off from work for professional development is too difficult to justify in the modern workplace. Markets change too quickly for traditional learning to keep up. Learning done in small increments (microlearning) is a much better fit for today’s time-strapped and on-the-go workforce.
Using Microlearning to Develop a Learning Culture
It may seem counterintuitive, but the best way to create an effective learning culture that empowers employees to become leaders is to simplify complicated training and apply the concept of “Less is More.” Tyfoom makes it easy for companies to build a productive learning culture through its simple, yet highly effective, video-based microleaning app.
Rather than requiring hours of dedicated time for training, Tyfoom fits in the flow of work so employees don’t lose focus and momentum. Users receive consistent, 1- to 2-minute engaging training videos on their mobile devices. Bite-sized chunks of content make it easy for learners to consume new concepts. And because managers can curate content playlists based on individual roles, employees receive only training that is relevant to them.
Tyfoom also helps managers instantly identify both high and low performers via engagement scores. Engagement scores level the playing field by uncovering employees not initially thought of as leadership material, but who are truly team players, willing to do the work and willing to learn skills the company needs.
Tyfoom makes it easy for managers to pinpoint high-performing workers that they may have overlooked by observing their performance scores compared to peers. High scores can help identify committed, loyal employees for the next generation of company leadership.
These leadership skills can then be further developed in each employee. After all, leadership isn’t an inherent trait but rather a skill that can be cultivated through appropriate training, every team member can be a leader. They need to be identified, guided and empowered with the right tools to reach their potential.
Using a Learning Culture to Create Leaders
Employees are far more likely to enjoy learning when it is viewed as an opportunity to actualize their potential. Tyfoom provides autonomy, purpose and mastery which are essential to intrinsic motivation. Shifting employees’ mental state from externally motivated to internally motivated determines whether or not learning is truly internalized and retained.
Simply put, employees who want to become more, truly become more successful. A consistent cadence and repetition of topics through short video content builds confidence in learners leading to a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.
To learn more about how you can create a culture of learning in your organization, schedule a meeting to speak with a Tyfoom training consultant.
In the last segment of this series, we will examine the need for simplicity in communication to effectively build successful leaders in just minutes a day.