Your first instinct might be to think that corporate training going virtual is not the most riveting subject to be listening to but that was until Corrina Towers started talking about it. Corrina leads training engagements for First Friday and specialises in building high performing sales teams in retail, life sciences and property development.  Her clients have included business such as Tesco, Polo Ralph Lauren and she has recently developed a virtual training capability for several clients that were in the midst of implementing new systems when lockdown happened.

Any significant change in an organisation has to pass through a training stage before new systems and ways of working can be implemented.  Systems Training in particular is typically a complex blend of new technology, features, process and sometimes even new roles.  Training out this complex combination has typically relied heavily on face to face training sessions but not any more.

The model has been re-invented to move to a full virtual delivery and a deluge of new virtual delivery skills, optimised content and technologies are required to make it work.

Corrina shares her observations about what has changed and we discuss in some detail:

What are the componenets of a virtual traning model

What is different about the way that we deliver

What technology do we need

What skills do people need

When does virtual training work

When does it not work

What does the future hold for traiing… if we are going t go virtual with everything and we will ceratainly see that this a

Corporate training has shifted to a new model.  Face to face and lecture style training has it's place but the virtual movement is proving a point that it can be done with being physically present.  But it is not straightforward and there are many more ways to fail if you don't put in the right foundations, content, capabilities and technology.

What has stayed the same is that training is best done in groups.  Small teams that can learn and develop together.  Group size is key and we talk about the interesting features available on platforms such as Teams and Zoom.    The bigger the group the more people can hide in the shadows.  How you Involve them, engage them and make connections is still key but done with completely new skills.  

We even discuss Zoom fatigue...Zoomed out and Teamed Off.  All of this and more on the Bleeding Edge of Virtual Training Delivery.

Connect with Corrina on LinkedIn here

Visit First Friday here