In recent years, the trend of remote work has seen an immense surge in popularity, with Adzuna reporting a 270% growth in remote job opportunities since 2017. This has enabled employers such as Adobe and Aetna to access a vast talent pool that is not geographically limited, with a variety of sectors now attempting to fill openings. Nevertheless, the challenge of managing a remote workforce does not end with recruitment: onboarding employees, managing teams and ensuring effective collaboration are all essential components of the process. Moreover, it is important to recognise the importance of keeping remote workers motivated and providing opportunities for them to develop new skills; this aspect of remote job management is often overlooked, yet it is essential for success.
Why should they be encouraged in the first place?
In our article titled ‘Top 10 Qualities of Effective Remote Managers‘, we discussed how competent remote workforce managers are able to assist their team members in their professional growth. Without such assistance, team members may feel neglected. According to CNBC, in today’s job market, having new skills is becoming more important than having a degree or other credentials. This is especially pertinent due to the rapid advances in technology, which has left 40-50% of workers feeling unprepared to successfully complete their tasks. At the very least, providing employees with the opportunity to acquire new skills can help them to excel in their current roles.
Encourage your team by using the right software
In order to assist your team in developing new abilities while working remotely, it is imperative that you invest in the correct software. Fortunately, there are software solutions such as Loom and TalentLMS that are specifically designed to accommodate the needs of remote learning.
Loom
In recent years, a number of remote learning systems have been developed, with Loom standing out as an industry leader due to its content-sharing capabilities. According to HP’s explanation of Loom’s features, the software enables instructors to create videos and distribute instructions to their remote workforce, regardless of their location. This allows for the instant delivery of accurate lessons and instructions. Additionally, Loom provides the ability to track who has viewed the videos, giving managers the ability to identify which members of the team are taking advantage of the opportunities provided. This allows for the identification of those who are engaged in the learning process, allowing managers to focus on those who are not.
TalentLMS
While Loom may offer a comprehensive solution that is suitable for distance learning in general, TalentLMS is specifically designed to meet the needs of enterprises. According to Finances Online’s evaluation of TalentLMS’s features, the platform may help customers streamline the delivery of webinars, online courses, and training programs. Furthermore, it is also possible to create and host eLearning courses on a cloud server, allowing members of your organisation to access the lessons on their own terms and at their own convenience. Having the learning material in the cloud allows your employees to study at their own pace, without being limited by any specific timetable or structure.
Motivate staff to be active learners.
It is essential to motivate your employees to acquire and develop new skills if you want to ensure a productive workforce. As suggested by Forbes, you can make use of internal resources to accelerate upskilling, such as encouraging experienced team members to design eLearning courses and provide guided teaching. This approach allows members of the organisation to learn from different levels, whether it be a skill needed for the job or managerial knowledge. Ultimately, this will help to build a knowledgeable and competent team.
It is essential that employers have a well-defined strategy in place to ensure that remote workers can develop their skillset. As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide the necessary support to create an environment that encourages learning. We hope that this information has been beneficial in helping you to better equip your remote workers.
