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Training the Ted Talk Way
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TED Talks, the popular conference and video lecture series, has a cardinal rule that all presenters must follow: No talk can exceed 18 minutes. As TED curator Chris Anderson puts it, 18 minutes is “short enough to hold people’s attention, including on the internet, and precise enough to be taken seriously. But it’s also long enough to say something that matters.”
The TED rule can also apply to companies trying to keep employees alert and engaged during what can often be dry or lengthy corporate training sessions.
In addition to facing challenges with attention spans, trainers must overcome another frequent issue – classes are often designed to fit the needs of business compliance goals, not the needs of employees’ personal development goals. As a result, companies often try to jam all the information they want workers to absorb into daylong – or longer – sessions. Employees, in turn, naturally tune out when they are bored or restless. Therefore, it is no surprise that companies are sometimes disappointed by the results of their training initiatives, with 38% saying the transfer of knowledge and retention are their biggest challenges.
To increase learning and recall, many organizations are overhauling their training programs. Long sessions are being replaced by a practice known as bite-sized or micro-learning techniques. Companies that successfully embrace bite-sized learning are incorporating a range of best practices to capture employee attention and interest that include:
The good news for companies is that the elements of bite-size learning that make training more pleasant and effective can also be applied to other business needs. For example, employees often complain about the benefits enrollment process. According to the 2018 Aflac WorkForces Report, just 39% of employees surveyed have a full understanding of their health insurance policy; 19% did not feel confident they understood everything they signed up for after their most recent benefits enrollment.
The solution? Companies can use new learning strategies to develop materials that:
Some companies – especially smaller organizations – may not have the staff, time or expertise to fully develop expansive benefits-enrollment materials. That is where benefits advisors can help. Many provide free materials designed to help employees make smart, informed benefits decisions. They also can help your company develop plans to distribute bite-sized information on a regular schedule that enhances employee comprehension and retention – and holds their attention like a compelling TED talk does.