Most of us learn how to absorb new information early on in our lives—even before we are conscious that there is actual learning taking place. But as we get older and our brains become more fixed, picking up new information can be far more difficult, forcing those in corporate training to become more efficient and more aware of how their efforts can affect the company’s results. 

Fortunately, for those companies looking to enhance and improve learning capabilities among their employees, there are proven ways to help team members absorb and retain new information, and consequently, improve your bottom line. 

In this blog post, we will be examining five effective strategies for transforming the learning behavior of your team and how to implement them. That way, you can ensure that you are providing your team with the best possible learning environment and opportunities for growth. 

What is learning behavior?

Learning behavior is a term that refers to the patterns of behavior that people acquire through learning—essentially, how one learns and retains information. It is an important part of both individual and organizational development and can involve anything from developing new skills or knowledge to changing attitudes or beliefs. 

Learning Behavior includes a number of different aspects of education and training: 

• the acquisition of skills and knowledge
• the ability to recognize and remember new information
• the ability to use that knowledge in new and different situations
• the ability to modify behavior in response to environmental stimuli 

In essence, learning behavior is how people develop their understanding of the world around them and how they interact with it.

How Can You Improve Learning Behaviors?

It’s well proven that companies need to be able to equip their employees with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to be effective in their roles; the problem is that, without the right strategies in place, traditional learning methods can become outdated or not be adapted to fit today’s digital world. This, in turn, leads to employees becoming disengaged and less productive in the workplace. 

Fortunately, there are ways to transform and improve how your employees learn. By putting these 5 strategies into place, you can help your employees become more motivated, engaged and effective at their jobs. 

1) Prioritize learning

The ability to continually learn and expand upon existing skills is a key factor in achieving success in any career, and should be no different from a corporate perspective. To prioritize learning, organizations should create an environment that fosters knowledge acquisition and encourages employees to take initiative to develop new skills. 

Here are a few ideas for how you can prioritize learning in your team or company:

Make sure that it is given priority and focus in the workplace. 

This means creating a culture in which learning is seen as valuable, and where employees are given the time and resources they need to further their development. This can be done by creating opportunities for employees to access training, attending workshops or seminars, or encouraging employees to attend conferences and networking events. 

Ensure that there is ample time for employees to focus on personal development. 

By setting aside time for employees to research, read, and reflect on their own, organizations can encourage employees to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in their industry, as well as develop their own expertise. 

Reward those who demonstrate a dedication to continuous learning. 

Whether it’s through offering bonuses or special recognition, organizations should recognize when their employees are taking initiative to further their professional development. This will encourage more employees to prioritize learning, which will ultimately result in a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce. 

By prioritizing learning, organizations can create an environment that encourages employees to continually expand their skillset and develop professionally. Doing so will help companies remain competitive, create a highly skilled workforce, and promote employee growth and development.

2) Encourage social learning

Social learning is the process of learning by observing and interacting with others. This type of learning takes place in both formal and informal settings, where people gain knowledge and skills through observing and engaging with their peers. It is a powerful way to learn as it facilitates better understanding and comprehension than traditional instruction and encourages employees to actively take part in their own learning, rather than passively listening to lectures or other forms of instruction. 

If you want to increase social learning among your team members, here’s what you can do: 

Provide an environment that encourages collaborative learning. 

This may include open discussion forums, regular team meetings, peer-mentoring initiatives, or activities that allow for knowledge sharing between colleagues. Employers should also create a safe space for employees to ask questions, receive feedback, and make mistakes without fear of reprimand. 

Ensure that there are ample opportunities for networking. 

This includes events such as conferences or seminars, so that employees can connect with experts in their field. 

When employees interact with each other and share experiences, they can quickly build on collective knowledge and develop innovative solutions. It also helps in developing communication skills and encourages creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

3) Use technology to assess results

Technology has revolutionized the way we learn, and it can be used to assess learning results as well. When used in conjunction with traditional learning techniques, technology can increase learning and retention capabilities by allowing for data tracking and analysis of employee learning behaviors.

Many companies now use software platforms such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) to enable employers to monitor learning progress and understand which types of content are working best. It also allows companies to develop custom learning plans and delivery methods tailored to each individual employee’s learning preferences and goals. 

As an example, Bongo is a video-based platform designed to engage learners in the training process, and then assess areas that might need improvement, or identify users who are making exceptional progress. With four different formats to deliver information and an automated feedback and assessment tool, the platform can not only help users learn and retain information, but can provide vital information to managers and leaders within the company in real-time. Technologies such as this are, as a result, allowing companies to scale and grow quickly, based on the improved learning of their team.

Using technology to assess results can help employers gain valuable insights into how their employees learn, what strategies are effective, and where improvements can be made. By utilizing these assessment tools, employers can ensure that their employees are engaged, productive, and actively participating in their learning environment.

4) Encourage collaboration

Collaboration is a key element for learning and development in the workplace. When team members work together, they can learn faster and retain more information than if they were to work alone. Companies that encourage collaboration among their team members benefit from greater knowledge sharing, creative problem-solving, and increased motivation.

To foster collaboration in the workplace, organizations should: 

Create opportunities for employees to interact with one another. 

This could include setting up team-building activities, creating workspaces that promote collaboration, and scheduling regular check-ins to keep everyone informed of progress. 

Encourage collaboration through online tools. 

This may include video conferencing, group chats, and shared document repositories.

Rewarding collaboration efforts. 

This can be a great motivator for teams to work together. Praising the accomplishments of individual team members, or giving out recognition awards for outstanding collaborative efforts, can help to foster a sense of unity among co-workers. 

5) Encourage reflection

Reflection is a key step in the learning process, allowing employees to assess their own knowledge and understanding of a topic or skill. It not only allows employees to assess what they have learned and what gaps remain in their knowledge, but it helps them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as self-confidence in their own abilities.

For a company to effectively encourage this process, it should provide employees with opportunities to reflect on their progress in a constructive and non-judgmental manner. This could include providing feedback forms, automated feedback from a platform like Bongo, or implementing a ‘lessons learned’ meeting at the end of each project or training session. 

With consistent evaluation and assessment, employees can identify areas where they may need additional help and support, and further their own knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

If your goal is to enhance and improve the learning of your company or team—whether for onboarding new employees or creating a culture of learning, Bongo is here to help you achieve your goals. For a demo of Bongo’s full range of capabilities and how it can help your sales team grow, visit bongolearn.com/software to schedule a demo.