Making that switch from physical work to online work, especially during the pandemic era, can be a very difficult task for most managers. It's even more difficult when these managers are unaware of the various IT knowledge gaps that exist within the workforce. Of course, knowing those gaps and understanding what needs to be done to reach them isn't as easy as it seems. Firstly, even recognizing that those knowledge gaps exist can be a chore on its own.
But it doesn't have to be. It's fairly easy to recognize when your workers need IT training. All you need to do is have your eyes peeled for the following signs. If you see these signs among your employees, then the answer might be obvious; you need to organize IT training for your employees.
IT trainings are very important in the workplace because it not only makes employees more competent when dealing with IT-related tasks, it also improves their performance in other fields too, as IT skills are very transferrable. The training in this context doesn't only cover training that equips employees with relevant IT skills, it also covers online training that is carried out with the aid of information technology.
Inconsistent Work Process
The first sign you need to look out for when trying to figure out whether your employees need further IT training is their work process. Simply put, if productivity drops as a result of adaptation to online tools, they certainly need more training. This lack of a consistent work process can also be seen in the quality of work that employees deliver over time.
If it seems like only one employee or a group of employees can get jobs done well, and other employees or groups cannot seem to complete the task satisfactorily, that may be one sign of an inconsistent work process. It's even worse when these tasks involve online tools that should be easily deployed to solve them.
Of course, taking these employees through a comprehensive IT training process should be enough to get them up to speed, and block whatever knowledge gaps exist in the work process.
When They Want More Interconnectivity
Many might not want to admit it yet, but it's clear as day that in-person training can be comparable to horses; they changed the world, were a huge part of human history, and drove humanity to where it is today— but are also really slower and more cumbersome to deal with than cars.
Physical training has been a huge part of training for most of human history, and many people cannot imagine a life without them. However, it's clear as day that online training is the car in this analogy. They are the future and are certainly faster than in-person training. And it seems that many employees are already starting to notice this.
There's only so much an employee can learn from looking through company job manuals and job description lists. Sadly, many companies don't even have a dedicated education program, which makes things even worse because overstretched senior workers wouldn't be willing to bridge knowledge gaps without getting paid for it.
This is one gap that IT training can effectively cover. With online training, they can get a good grasp of organizational structure and best practices without taking hours from other employees. e-learning programs, for example, add a new dynamic to office structure because employees can be onboarded rather easily — and from anywhere in the world.
It's important, though, that whatever platform is used for the IT training is reliable, because that is a huge factor in determining how successful the training will be.
They Need IT Training That Meets Their Needs
Employees are ultimately searching for training modules that meet their needs. Some people are more receptive to visual training, while others are better learners with visual training modules. If you cannot provide this training yourself — which is extremely likely, then IT training may be the way to go. The great thing about online training is that it can be customized for each learner. Those who appreciate a more visual approach can watch a video, and those who prefer a hands-on approach to learning can participate in a simulated event. Employees who prefer text-based modules can download texts that impart knowledge and build skills.
All this means is that IT training, when done well, can cater to different people with different preferences and needs at the same time. If you notice that your employees require different approaches to learning, then IT-based training may just be what the doctor ordered.
When They Don't Know How To Apply What They've Learnt
Over the last few years, IT-based training has become a lot more popular with corporations, because it adds what's difficult to simulate in in-person classes; realism. While it's possible to work with scenarios in physical classes, it's a lot easier and more cost-effective to just do it through online training.
Online simulations allow employees to complete intensive training without the real-world risk of things going awry, and also help keep training costs down. This gives them the capacity to not only learn things in theory but also understand how to apply the principles they've learned in real life. Besides, it helps managers weed out employees who aren't capable of applying what they've learned. This, in turn, helps remove some of the risks associated with having incompetent employees.
So if you notice that your employees are having a hard time applying what they've learned in real-life situations, online trading can help correct that.
They Are Asking For Online Training Courses
This is perhaps the clearest sign that your employees need IT training. If they come up to you and ask for online modules, then it's clear that they need the training. They don't even have to make the requests clearly — all they need to drop are subtle hints, and you should take those hints seriously. However, before you make the switch, make sure you chose a reliable platform for the training, and that you know what your measures of success are.