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ToggleYou're creating a training program for remote workers so that you can increase their productivity. Here is what you need to know.
What qualifications should you list? In reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, workforces all around the world have moved to remote settings over the past year. Now the post-pandemic normal has meant that a lot of people have become remote workers and this itself has productivity challenges.
Employers must consider the training requirements of their staff, though, as remote work becomes a more prevalent aspect of office cultures worldwide. That requires them to either create their own internal employee training or seek help from outside consultants and other third parties. And as organizations increasingly integrate remote work into their office cultures, online instructors should consider what skills would require the most help to satisfy this expanding demand.
The top eight skills and training requirements for remote workers as of 2021 are listed below.
1. Project Management
When there is no shared workspace, it can be challenging to keep projects on schedule. To lead a team from beginning to end, you need structure, thoroughness, and good people skills. Additionally, while there are tools like applications and software that might expedite the process, they cannot completely substitute training, especially for bigger projects where collaboration between several departments may be required. Teachers designing courses in this area might go over the different software programs available for remote workers, offer tips for keeping projects on track, and develop hypothetical scenarios for managers to respond to when a project is running behind time.
2. Time Management
With regular breaks for coffee, lunch, and exchanges with co-workers, the traditional workplace lends structure to an employee’s workweek. Days often seem to mix together in a distant setting because there are fewer regular rhythms and more unforeseen disruptions. Effective time management may become more challenging for people as a result of all this. Training programs on time management might cover techniques for forming ingrained routines, such as taking regular breaks to maintain mental acuity. They might even provide staff members with specific instructions on when to ask their team leader for assistance.
3. Team Management
Many leaders struggle to understand when they are checking in too much or too little because management has changed dramatically for many workforces. Employees might also find it difficult to develop the kind of strong professional relationships necessary to keep a team running without face-to-face encounters. All the way up the organizational ladder, these can result in difficulties. Many corporate cultures currently place a strong premium on leadership development, but remote work will bring a new dimension to the existing curriculum. For this type of training, instructional designers may want to spend more time considering interactive scenarios to guide leaders through challenging situations.
4. Cybersecurity
Employees will become more of a target of internet attacks as they become more active online. Employees misuse digital information far too often because they are unaware of the consequences, despite the fact that it is valuable. Organizations need to have robust policies in place more than ever with the increase in security threats. Cybersecurity educators working online have a lot of stuff to cover. Instructors should have no end of course ideas on this topic, from comprehending threats (phishing attacks, password breaches, and software vulnerabilities) to developing a crisis response plan (identifying and responding to a security breach, analyzing the damage, and preventing repeat incidents).
5. Software expertise
Over the past year, many workers have been forced to acquire new technologies quickly. While this has helped many workers narrow a skills gap in basic software literacy, it has also made the average worker more dependent on software to complete their tasks. Every firm will require different types of software. However, some software staples, like the Microsoft Office product line, may call for more thorough training so that staff members may get familiar with their more sophisticated features.
6. Communication
Effective communication is the most supple of all soft skills, but most employees can learn it. Furthermore, in the age of digital communication, when speech tones are absent, misunderstandings are frequent, and social conventions are continuously evolving, it is one that is becoming more and more crucial. To help young workers understand professional etiquette when they first enter the company, communications training may be a smart option. They might also be crucial for international businesses in order to recognize cultural differences while communicating with partners.
7. Customer Service
Since the first customer help hotline was set up, customer service has at least been available remotely. Every new technological advancement, however, also provides new opportunities for support. Furthermore, more people are frequently doing support roles as a result of remote work, even if that role is not their primary one. Both new technologies (such as how to manage customer support on social media or live chat) and the soft skills required to deal with picky customers should be covered in employee training for customer service.
8. Stress Management
Finally, many workers’ mental health has suffered as a result of the pandemic. However, even once these extreme circumstances pass, working from home has its own pressures that may be more difficult for leaders to recognize. Employers can prevent employee burnout by addressing the mental health requirements of their staff by developing stress management training. Exercises in meditation, methods for defusing difficult situations, awareness of mental health issues, and determining when to take a mental health day could all be part of the course curriculum.
Businesses need to take the initiative to support their remote employees. Despite the many advantages of remote work, many workers still find it challenging. Businesses will be better positioned to prosper in the new normal if it manifests if they realize the need for training and look for educators who are competent to give it.
At Success By Design, we help Experts become Online Creators with our Done-for-You eLearning Design Services and Learning Management System(LMS). You can become an Online Course Creator with our services. Contact us for more information about being an Online course Creator info@successbydesign.co.za.
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