Corporate Training: Top 7 Trends For Training Programs
Due to the high popularity of our previous post, "Corporate Training: Top 5 Trends for Training Programs", we decided to update the content by adding two more corporate training trends that organizations can't afford to ignore in 2015.
As these trends are on the rise, the need to find the right Instructional Designer (ID) has become increasingly important. Finding an ID with the right qualifications to keep up with these trends is a tall order. Locate your "Super ID". Download our "Top 5 Interview Questions for an Instructional Designer" today!
1. Corporate emphasis on training programs: Many companies are already 
operating with lean staff, due to attrition and not replacing staff, and also downsizing during the last few years as a result of a difficult economy. In this environment, focusing on retaining workers and cross training them to be more efficient makes sense. It's a culture of doing more with less. Many corporations are realizing the the investment in corporate training pays off and delivers a better ROI than constantly recruiting and hiring new staff due to high turnover.
2. Better corporate training techniques: Due to operational and economic challenges, corporate training techniques have come a long way. There are new standards and best practices for corporate training that result in more effective and efficient training programs. Some of these include positive reinforcement and better use of technology to reinforce training initiatives. In addition, recognition of learning styles coupled with individualized and personalized digital training have made learning easier and more effective for organizations.
3. Focus on extrinsic and intrinsic incentives: Utilizing psychology and understanding motivation has propelled corporate training to a more scientific approach. The goal is to work with the student and create opportunities to work with the individuals personal goals. It's more bottom up and consumer focused approach than top down, and with today's Gen Y and Gen C, it's a more efficient way to communicate the goals for training.
4. More eLearning and use of technology: The new generations of employees are very comfortable eLearning and mastering concepts with self-paced study. While there is no substitute for human interaction, many corporate training skills can be transferred through use of computer training programs.
5. Gamification techniques for corporate training: The use of gamification, that is, applying game principles to non-game situations is very appealing to the Gen Y and Gen C workforce. The concept is to make learning fun and to challenge the learner (termed a player) to continue to learn through quests and competition. An increasing number of organizations are utilizing gamification programs for corporate training.
Read more about the benefits of gamification...
* Update for 2015*
6. More video and less text: According to Cisco, 85% of companies will create more video content than they did in 2013. The drive behind that skyrocketing number is a confluence of technology advances and the fact that video is more stimulating than text. Video can increase learner engagement versus traditional methods and with the rise of smart phones comes a rise in the simplicity of sharing video.
7. Millennials now make up the majority of the workforce: The year of 2015 will be the year of the millennial. With that being said, the expectation of more flexibility and instant information will be on the rise. What else will be on the rise? Turnover. 71% of college grads leave their first job within two years. What does that mean for training? Continuous learning and social learning will become a priority.
Read more about how to train the millenial generation...
Overall, corporate training has become more effective and has a faster result of improving adoption of new corporate initiatives with less resistance to change. Hiring a training consultant who understands best practices and how to utilize these corporate trends is important to the success of the training program.
Want to find out more about managing change initiatives?
Download our infographic!
