In a bustling city, nestled within the towering buildings of corporate offices, there was a company known for its cutting-edge technology and rapid innovation. However, this company faced a challenge that perhaps you are experiencing as well: how to keep its employees up-to-date with the ever-evolving landscape of knowledge and skills.
Jake
Jake, a diligent UX designer, often felt time deficient due to the sheer volume of new skills he needed to acquire to meet team objectives. Jake had always prided himself on his ability to learn quickly. Yet, as the demands of his job grew, he found himself struggling to keep up with the need for reskilling. Each new project introduced a fresh wave of design tools, prototyping software, and user research techniques to master. The pressure was mounting, and Jake felt his efficiency slipping. Desperate for a solution, he approached the Learning and Development (L&D) team and said, "I need to learn all these new tools and techniques, but I only have a few minutes of uninterrupted time a day. The current training requires hours to complete. How can I possibly keep up?"
It Wasn’t Just Jake
The L&D team listened to Jake’s concerns and realized that he was not alone. Many employees faced similar challenges, struggling to find time for lengthy training sessions amidst their demanding schedules. The team understood that they needed to find a solution that would help everyone, not just Jake. They grappled with the concept of microlearning, which breaks down complex subjects into small, easily digestible chunks, allowing learners to absorb information quickly and retain it longer.
The Transformation
The L&D team rallied together and began to revise their training courses, breaking down comprehensive courses into concise, focused modules.
Sarah, the instructional designer, prioritized the most critical skills and knowledge that employees needed. She ensured that the core material was covered effectively while making excess material from the hours-long courses available as supplementary resources for those who wanted to dive deeper.
Tom, Sarah’s L&D manager, met with stakeholders to explain their new approach and its benefits. He invited Jake to share his learning experience and explain why the new microlearning approach mattered so much. This personal testimony helped address concerns and gain buy-in from key leaders.
Team managers worked with the L&D team to adjust completion requirements for employees by staggering deadlines, giving priority to the modules containing the most critical skills and impactful knowledge that employees needed.
Emily, the L&D analyst, also adjusted their metrics and began measuring engagement, retention, and application of skills in the workplace instead of focusing solely on completion rates.
The Success
With the new microlearning approach in place, Jake started incorporating these bite-sized learning sessions into his daily routine. Instead of clearing his calendar for four hours right before a course was due, Jake started tackling one module per day, sometimes taking them in the order he needed to upskill for a particular project. The new deadlines fit seamlessly into his busy schedule, reducing his stress and increasing his productivity.
As weeks passed, Jake noticed a significant change. The new skills that were falling through the cracks before now seemed manageable. He could recall details more easily during meetings and felt more confident in his designs. His colleagues also embraced the new microlearning modules and experienced similar improvements. Productivity soared, and the team’s overall satisfaction improved.
Conclusion
Jake's story illustrates the power of breaking down complexity through microlearning. By shifting their approach to learning with the help of the L&D team, Jake and his colleagues overcame the time deficiency and unlocked new levels of productivity and confidence. Encouraged by their success, the L&D team continued to explore other innovative learning strategies. With each new insight, they transformed the learning journey for employees, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the company.
Disclaimer: All names in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual companies is purely coincidental.
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