Learning platforms can offer a wealth of benefits for both employers and employees, but the operative words there are can offer. The truth is, many learning platforms fail to deliver on their full potential, and that’s not because the learning content is bad. It’s because the platform simply doesn’t possess the characteristics that employees actually want from their learning experiences.
Ultimately, the best learning platform is one that employees actually want to use, not one that they suffer through. In this post, we’ll round up some of the key things that employees want from learning platforms, which can help you choose one that will provide genuine value, both to them and your business.
No Training Required
Employees are busy enough; they don’t need extra items on their to-do list. All too often, employers invest in learning platforms that sound like they can provide value, but which, in practice, rarely get used because of how complicated they are to use.
The best learning platforms are intuitive to use from the very first login, and a lot of that comes down to the interface. The platform should be enterprise-level, but have the look and feel of a consumer app that requires minimal, if any, training to use.
Mobile Compatibility
Employees will sometimes learn while at a desktop computer, but there will also be times when they’re on the move and need to look something up. At that point, the platform’s mobile compatibility will be key. The vast majority of learning platforms make the software available on mobile, but to varying degrees. Some are little more than just a smaller version of the desktop version. The best ones have clearly been thought out and designed around how people actually use their smartphone devices.
Content That Makes Sense For Them
With employees feeling more overwhelmed than ever before, the last thing that they want to see is a tidal wave of content when they open up a learning platform. And they want even less to see content that’s not relevant to their needs. That’s a waste of their time and energy, and they know it.
A good learning platform will show content that’s relevant to the employees’ role, providing a personalized list that removes the need for the employee to sift through content. Even if they can ultimately access the full catalogue of content, what’s pushed in their direction should be stuff that makes settling into learning a breeze.
Gentle Reminders
Reminders can be the difference between an employee completing learning modules at a relaxed pace or rushing to get everything done.
The problem is that some learning platforms issue reminders that are all too easy to ignore. That’s the case when they appear too frequently or when they use language that sounds overly robotic. A good reminder is one that’s well-timed and unobtrusive, yet attention-grabbing. A good learning platform will understand this and will have incorporated reminders that actually work.
Centralized Learning
If there’s one thing that frustrates employees, it’s having to switch across multiple platforms. And that’s especially true if they have to do so unnecessarily. Not only does this put more work on the employee’s plate, but it can also impact productivity. In addition, when a member of staff has to sift through multiple platforms, it’s much more likely that things fall through the cracks.
A good learning platform is all-encompassing and comprehensive, providing employees with everything they need in one single space. It’s ultimately much easier to engage with learning when you know exactly where it takes place, and when you feel comfortable with the tool.
Clear Objectives
Confusion not only kills productivity. It also kills motivation. The best-case scenario is that an employee genuinely enjoys learning and developing their skills, but that’s much less likely to happen if they’re unsure of what they’re doing and why. Good learning platforms provide as much detail as possible, including outlining what’s required and what’s optional, due dates, how much progress they’ve made, and generally offering full visibility.
Social Elements
Social learning is an excellent feature of learning platforms, but only if it’s managed correctly. Mostly, that comes down to how organic it feels. Employees can sense when it feels like a social aspect of learning has been forced, and they’re especially put off when it is actually forced.
A good platform will handle the social component well, allowing for subtlety that gently guides the social element without being pushy.
Ongoing Updates and Management
The ongoing management of a learning platform is one of the most overlooked aspects of corporate learning platforms. If the content hasn’t been updated for a long time, then it’s natural that employees begin to doubt its quality.
And aside from raising questions about the relevance of the content, it can also have employees doubting the importance of the learning platform in the first place. Committing to managing and updating the learning platform is key to keeping employees on board and ensuring that what they’re learning is up-to-date and useful.
The best platforms make managing the content just as straightforward as the employees’ experience, allowing for frequent updates without feeling like you’re adding a lot to your to-do list.
Signs The Company Takes L&D Seriously
Finally, the best learning platforms plainly communicate that the business takes learning and development seriously. There’s a world of difference between a basic, outdated learning platform that is little more than a dumping ground for learning content. On the other hand, if the platform is well-organized, personalized, and simply looks good, then the employee will see that as a sign that it’s something the company values.
Conclusion
It’s easy to overlook the importance of having a learning platform that employees actually want to use, but really, its success pretty much depends on it. If employees actually like using the platform, then they’ll be much more likely to engage with the content and unlock the full benefits, and in the end, that’s great for both the employees and the business as a whole.
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