Leadership development programmes create strength in depth for organisations nurturing talent to take their companies forward in the coming years. With the right type of training, guidance and support, employees with existing knowledge of the company can rise through the ranks, bringing with them expertise and a wealth of capabilities. The right learning environment is therefore important to support talented employees in gaining, applying and refining leadership skills.
Leadership training for skills type
Transferable, or so-called ‘soft’, skills require a particular training approach. Leadership falls into this category, along with communication, customer service, people management and more.
While other types of training may revolve around reading or watching, leadership skills are built up over time through application, reflection, guidance and support.
All of which requires a very particular learning environment. One that inspires action and that supports continuous learning experiences.
Programmatic learning
Programmatic learning is a framework designed to build leadership and other transferable skills. It takes a blended learning approach that takes place over a period of time and that enables learners to build up skills, try them out, receive feedback and input, and refine their approach.
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As a blended learning approach, learning is facilitated by technology but combines elements of application and practice.
The learning platform is ideally placed to support the framework of programmatic learning because it provides a range of features and capabilities that are designed to facilitate interaction and skills application. Crucially, it is a learning environment that goes beyond providing content.
Relevant tools include:
- Discussion groups – that enable peer and learner/coach interaction and the exchange of ideas
- Video assignments – through which learners can apply their skills and share with others for input and feedback
- Assessment options – to check understanding, challenge learners and provide milestones in learning pathways
- Gamification – to motivate and engage through reward and recognition when milestones are achieved or good learning behaviour is demonstrated
- Feedback – which can be from a range of stakeholders and take the form of video or audio or be provided via intelligent automation of messaging
- Course creation – to enable subject matter experts and not just administrators to create courses
- Cohort management – tools to communicate between, and manage all participants in a programme to keep them engaged and on track.
While digital coaching, role-play opportunities and group work and collaboration can be facilitated online, there is also scope for learners to incorporate evidence of real-world practice through, for example, video assignments and reflections.
As well as providing a pathway for learners to follow, the learning platform supports L&D in keeping all training in one place, so that it can be monitored, measured and reported on. This is made possible through blended programmatic learning with administration through the platform.
Action-based programmatic learning supports employees in building long-lasting skills to progress in their careers. Through the learning platform, comprehensive and engaging programmes of development, including those around developing leadership skills, can be delivered to meet complex skills challenges.
To find out more about programmatic learning, including how to introduce it in your business, the benefits it provides and how to blend online and instructor-led training, download our eBook.
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