Live Virtual Training: Maximize Impact and Maximize Value
Why live virtual training should complement a return to the office and how to make the most of the experience.
They say hindsight is 2020, and looking back two years, it still amazes me how quickly many companies across the globe pivoted their professional development strategies in 2020. Suddenly in place of offsites and networking events, there were Zoom coffee breaks, virtual wine tastings and webinar conferences. Learning professionals worked at hyper speed to figure out how to replace in-person training with a live, engaging experience that took place inside their employees’ homes. We experimented. We learned. And now that we are returning to the office in large numbers, we’re thrilled to return to the in-person classroom.
However, it would be a missed opportunity if we abandoned all we learned over the last two years in our adrenaline rush to gather in person. According to The Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 State of the Industry report, 35% of learning hours were delivered in the virtual classroom in 2020, up from 19% in 2019. ATD’s Virtual Classrooms: Leveraging Technology for Impact report found that 98% of organizations used virtual classrooms and that 9 in 10 organizations saw the pandemic as a major driver in that decision.
I believe virtual learning can and should complement an in-person development strategy going forward for several reasons. First, we’ve gotten good at it. The experience just keeps getting better as technology and know-how continues to improve. Virtual gathering is accessible and scalable. If your firm is spread out across the country or globe, live virtual learning is a way to bring people together in a low cost, efficient way. It creates opportunities to bring high touch, high quality learning and development to more employees.
Virtual learning can be used to put cohorts through longer-term programs. For example, you can bring a group of future leaders together for a program launch in person, then they can meet each month as a cohort for ongoing development and skill building virtually, culminating in another capstone event in person. The time participants spend virtually will not only build capabilities and culture, it will nurture personal relationships that will be increasingly important as they grow in their career.
What are some of the lessons learned during the pandemic about live virtual training that we should carry forward? The five best practices below can enhance or improve any live virtual experience.
Use Zoom’s breakout rooms and other features. You can create intimate experiences on Zoom. Breakout room functionality allows you to gather small groups for practice, feedback, discussion and sharing. Moving to a breakout room creates the illusion of going to another place and in this “zone of safety” relationships form, jokes are made, risks are taken and sharing happens. Adding a facilitator or experienced colleague to each room can give the exercise structure and will ensure that the group produces the desired outcome. These live virtual groups can be a lot of fun, and there is no hiding in a breakout room. Other Zoom features like chat or polling can work well when integrated into the flow of the session. You can use polling to take a vote or conduct a quick litmus test. Chat allows you to collect rapid responses or crowd source ideas.
3D supports 2D. Surprise and delight participants by mailing a box full of swag, course materials, snacks and other items that complement the virtual experience. For example, send coffee and tea for breaks or a non-alcoholic cocktail mixer for a virtual happy hour. Special themed treats can elevate a snack into a shared experience. Networking during lunch? Send a gift card to a food delivery service and then participants can share their selections with the group. Are you dividing a large group into teams? Different color t-shirts or hats can be worn on camera to create a festive visual effect. Do you want to provide a gift with the company logo? A water bottle or coffee mug to be used during the session can foster firm spirit. Maybe you use playing cards, trivia questions, ice breaker prompts, or books during the training session. Add them to the box. The idea is to get creative and fill the box with items that will enhance the participants’ experience and reinforce company culture. Finally, make sure the packaging feels like a special gift since it is the first impression that will set the tone for the program.
Rely on bursts of precision. Zoom fatigue is real, so keep sessions short and highly structured. Each block of 10-20 minutes should have a goal and a take-away. The blocks can be strung together for longer or shorter sessions, with ample stretch breaks every 50 minutes. Live virtual sessions should be a sprint, not a marathon. Create a varied experience by constantly changing modes and moving from full tile grid to screen share to breakout rooms and back. You can use short videos or other audiovisual cues throughout the session to keep the participants’ attention. Finally, encourage participants to display their names at the start of the session and then use their names to call on them to participate when their hand is raised or to acknowledge a contribution to the group discussion.
Overprepare facilitators. Zoom learning sessions are highly orchestrated events, where engaging the participants is critical. If you are moving on every 10-20 minutes, it is important to keep discussions on track and avoid the rabbit holes. When you ask a question to the group and hear silence, count to 10 in your head and more often than not, someone will contribute. It is uncomfortable to sit in silence. Always remember that live virtual facilitation favors the extroverts, so it is important to balance the discussion and include all participants in the dialogue. The virtual classroom should be the same safe space you create in the live classroom.
Cameras on, microphones off (except when contributing). Set expectations up front that cameras stay on at all times unless a participant need to step away briefly from their desk. It is the only way to “be together” when gathering virtually. Eye contact, facial expression and focus from each participant encourages the same from everyone and results in deeper virtual engagement.
I’m excited that we are returning to the conference room and the classroom, to the industrial coffee carafe, and the m&m dish. I thoroughly enjoy the energy sparked from live whiteboarding, relationship building and completing teambuilding exercises. But I also look forward to figuring out the best ways to make a hybrid strategy produce better results than in-person alone. Live virtual training extends and amplifies learning opportunities, keeps distant geographies connected, and can be done from the comfort of your home office.
To learn more about Veritas Leadership and the learning and development programs we offer, please explore our website or email us at info@veritasleadershipllc.com.