Just as many other sectors have had to change their business, sales and distribution models this past year, we’ve changed too!
It’s been a year since I delivered a training programme in a room with sales people and sales leaders there with me…and I’ve definitely missed it.
On the plus side, I’ve still managed to deliver lots of training and coaching. This has been via Zoom (or ‘Teams’) and complemented by our pre-produced eLearning content.
Lately, as clients clarify their post-covid training needs, I’m getting asked more and more “What’s the best format?”
I built my business on the delivery of live in-the-room training – and believe me I can’t wait to get back there again 😊
I have to say though that I’ve really enjoyed delivering training via Zoom these past few months, and thankfully the feedback has been fantastic.
Mission accomplished then.
Your “Which Training” Guide
So when people ask me which is the best way to receive training, I would say it’s very much ‘horses for courses’ with so much resting on a client’s individual needs, objectives and circumstances.
As a general guide, here are some of the headline pro’s and cons of Zoom v in-the-room v eLearning. Hope it helps as you develop your next training needs analysis.
In-The-Room Training
Key Pros
- Easier to absorb, discuss, ask questions and debate with the trainer and fellow delegates
- Training days create a sense of occasion, an event. Staff feel more invested in, more significant and more motivated
- The presenter can demonstrate flexibility and agility to accommodate the unique personalities, abilities, strengths, weaknesses of those present
- Good synergy via connecting, relaying experiences, resolving challenges, sharing best practice
- Being away from the work station can ensure more honesty, more creativity, more fun and more great ideas. A feel-good dividend
- Your presenter easily notices and can respond to dips in motivation, changes in engagement levels and body language
Things to Consider
- There’s a lot to take in during a full day’s training. Needs a robust follow-up process to ensure knowledge learned isn’t forgotten quickly!
- Potential costs of time away from the job, travel, overnight accommodation, absence from home and family
Zoom Training
Key Pros
- Short, bite-sized sessions can be more effective than long days in a training room, ensuring new skills care learned, absorbed, remembered and utilised easily
- No business travel, no overnight stays, no away-from-the-family feeling. CFO’s tend to like the resulting savings too!
- A live presenter can still demonstrate flexibility and agility to accommodate the unique personalities, abilities, strengths, weaknesses of those tuning in.
- Ongoing virtual training catch-ups can be more valuable than longer, more occasional get-togethers in the room
- Sessions can be recorded and circulated back to attendees, enabling easy revisits and reminders, helping to embed the learning
- You can still get discussions, debates, interactions, chat, and break out rooms for smaller group discussions
Things to consider
- Anyone tuning in will need a decent internet connection. An ethernet cable helps
- Time zones! You might not get thanked if you schedule the Canada team for virtual training at 3 am Toronto time to accommodate the Dubai team!
- Any attendees need a quiet, private room where they can fully participate without being interrupted.
eLearning
Key Pros
- Again, bite-sized training sessions can be more effective than long days in a training room. Content is absorbed, embedded, remembered and utilised more effectively
- Ideal if you’ve large teams spread far and wide and maybe over different time zones. Brilliant for getting training to large numbers in a short time frame
- No business travel, no overnight stays, and none of that away-from-the-family feeling. CFO’s tend to like the resulting savings too!
- Instant data is great for evaluating progress, performance, and immediate needs. Individual needs are identified and timely support given.
- Quick to set up. You can be up and running in days. There’s no wait as you synchronise dates, organise travel, book hotel rooms.
- Courses are just a click away 24-7, on their preferred device, at their preferred location. And at their pace, not someone else’s.
Things to consider
- Anyone tuning in to virtual training will need to have a decent internet connection.
- Any learner needs to ensure they’re able to learn in a quiet working area (at home or work) where they can fully participate without being interrupted.
- Compared to live training, eLearning is a solitary experience. Regular assessments, scenarios, simulations, group forums etc help bring it to life.
Some things to ponder as you work out which training is going to be best for your sales team.
Until next time
Leigh 😊
PS If you want to chat about the various options to develop Sales Mindset in your team then please get in touch!
Thanks Tim Mossholder for the great image!
