In this episode of the MHR Show, hosts Andy and Isabella are joined by two of MHR’s learning experts:
- Coleen Broderick, Academy People Development Trainer
- Ian MacKinnon, Senior Product Manager (People First Learning)
The panel discuss the future of learning technology and the benefits of investing in learning for individual employees and entire organisations.
Emotional intelligence: the skill every employer is looking for
Coleen explains that the skill employers are looking for more and more these days is emotional intelligence. It's something that every employee should consider developing as part of a wider effort to work on their interpersonal skills. Building emotional intelligence doesn't just benefit the employee; it benefits the wider business, too. An emotionally intelligent workforce leads to cross-team collaboration and more communication across the board.
How can technology support skills development?
Employees who are naturally curious will seek out development opportunities and be independent in driving their own learning. Technology can support this by supplementing the work that L&D teams do (rather than replacing them). With the digital-first generation now entering the workforce, there’s more of an expectation for employers to provide employees with easy-to-use platforms that support a variety of areas in the workplace, including learning and development. As we look towards the future of work, more and more businesses are investing in a digital learning platform that supports different styles of learning.
As Ian puts it, these platforms get the right people to the right training at the right time. They're a hub of training and support materials and short form content for bite-sized learning. Alternative to classroom-style training courses, a digital learning platform provides employees with short snippets of good quality learning content that they can turn to in their busy schedules without causing too much disruption to their flow of work. This style of learning allows employees to take charge of their own development and make learning a priority in their day-to-day working routine.
AI is changing the way we learn
AI is changing the way we learn and seek out new information, particularly at work. Employees are increasingly turning to Chat GPT for information and instruction rather than referring to training manuals or asking a colleague for help. While some employees are excited by the potential of AI, a lot are still fearful and may need L&D teams to provide training and resources on how to use AI effectively in the workplace.
Learning never stops
Learning is a lifelong process; it doesn’t stop when you’ve completed your onboarding or initial training. It shouldn’t stop just because you’re experienced in your career or have been with your company for a long time. There are always new skills to develop, always new technologies to be trained up on, and always opportunities for personal growth.
Level up your learning with our World of Work 2050 webinar series
Our World of Work 2050 webinar series shines a light on the innovations and trends that are transforming our future of work. With one registration you’ll get access to all twelve episodes as they’re released on the last Thursday of every month.
In April’s webinar, MHR and Docebo explore technology’s role in the future of learning from both a UK and Northern American perspective. Sign up for insights from Ian MacKinnon and Vince De Freitas as they share their expertise on learning technology and modern approaches to skills development.
