How do you create a learning community among remote employees?

To create a learning community among remote employees, start by fostering a culture of collaboration and engagement through structured mentorship programs and online communities based on shared interests or professional development goals. Encourage regular interaction by organizing virtual team-building activities, such as online trivia nights or digital coffee breaks, which help employees connect on a personal level. Implement collaborative learning sessions that promote peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, while also providing access to resources that cater to various learning styles, including microlearning and asynchronous courses.

One important point I emphasize to folks embarking on the initial stages of establishing a learning community is that our people are at the core of our purpose. To ensure comprehensive growth, it is crucial to cultivate an environment of trust, where vulnerability can flourish. Incorporate learning objectives that prioritize the development of relationships, a sense of belonging, and trust as fundamental indicators of our learning community's success. Examples of activities that can foster relationship-building include beginning and ending each meeting with a check-in, correctly pronouncing people's names, building breakout rooms and pair-shares, and intentional activities that account for various learning styles.

> Utilize collaboration platforms, learning management systems, and virtual meeting tools to facilitate knowledge sharing and interaction. > Encourage virtual social events, mentorship programs, and peer-to-peer learning to build relationships and a sense of community. > Provide access to a variety of learning resources and empower employees to take ownership of their professional development.

To create a learning community among remote employees, define the purpose clearly, emphasizing skill enhancement and camaraderie. Foster connection through regular communication and collaboration. Cultivate a learning culture where continuous development is valued, offering resources like virtual meetups and curated materials. Example: At a remote company, the CEO establishes a learning community to empower skill development and collaboration. Through virtual sessions and curated resources, employees connect, share insights, and support each other's growth, fostering a vibrant learning community despite physical distance.

Decide what content you’ll be distributing in your learning community. Will you be sharing quick how-to’s? Giving instructions to activities? Posting short videos to educate your learners? Your learning community shouldn’t be a repeat of the exact same things they’re learning about elsewhere or they won’t come back.

The platform for delivery is important. Employees prefer platforms that are user friendly with various interactive functions such as one on one chats, chats rooms, emojis, break rooms etc. It is also important to ensure security of data and accessibility ensuring it si adaptable to all kinds of mobile device.

Make it seamless for your employees. If there’s a platform they’re already using and you can build a community there, that’s a great place to start. Be sure it’s a place they trust, otherwise they won’t post and share insights. Verify that there’s the capability for comments, likes, emojis, and gifs to add flexibility and fun to the sharing process.

Choose a platform that meets specific needs, is accessible to all, prioritizes collaboration, and ensures security. For example, platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams offer chat channels, file sharing, and video conferencing, fostering seamless communication and knowledge exchange among employees, regardless of their location or technical expertise.

Define expectations for participation and communication, encourage engagement, respect diversity, and set clear communication guidelines. For example, emphasize active participation, respect for diverse perspectives, and clear communication channels to create an inclusive and collaborative environment where remote employees feel empowered to learn and grow together.

Start with some loose guidelines that encourage discussion and light-heartedness. This isn’t a place for traditional, mandatory training so don’t treat it as such! You can edit the guidelines as more people join the community and more interaction informs the rules and guardrails that are needed.

Break the ice ! Never forget to use an icebreaker to begin to create a team, even online. An icebreaker is an activity or a set of activities designed to help a group of people get to know each other, build rapport, and create a comfortable atmosphere. Icebreaker facilitates introductions: it helps participants learn each other's names and some basic information. It also encourages collaboration and creates a sense of unity among participants. It is a good way to enhance communication between your learners. While breaking the ice, you create a positive atmosphere and set and inclusive tone for the learning community. Break the ice!

When it comes to activities, it doesn’t always have to be something that the learners complete. You can always share quick tips to make a job process easier on them, have a discussion about a before & after to gauge improvements, or add in some quizzes and polls to connect with your learners’ feedback. Make a list of activity types that get positive reaction and apply them to a different overarching topic each week. Keep it simple and focused.

Use the following activities: 1. Virtual Workshops: Host online workshops where employees interact, ask questions, and learn together. Example: Weekly virtual sessions on digital marketing trends. 2. Discussion Forums: Set up chat groups for sharing insights and seeking advice. Example: A Slack channel for discussing coding challenges. 3. Peer Learning Sessions: Organize sessions for employees to teach each other skills and share best practices. Example: Weekly role-playing sessions for sales pitches. 4. Book Clubs/Webinars: Initiate book clubs or webinars to discuss industry-related topics. Example: Monthly webinars on leadership principles.

Communities are hard to nurture as people have different needs. One additional way to facilitate a community is to make them become a contributor. So nudge some of the quieter participants to share a question or a content that then provides food for thought for the rest of the community.

Assign some of your more motivated learners to ask questions from their peers or post some compelling information. You’ll have to plant seeds to make the community grow, so start small, be consistent, and let it flourish.

1. Regular Communication: Use video calls, chat groups, and forums to encourage open dialogue. 2. Knowledge Sharing Platforms: Provide accessible channels for employees to share insights and resources. 3. Learning Opportunities: Organize webinars, workshops, and skill-sharing sessions for continuous development. 4. Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge contributions to motivate participation and collaboration. Example: Host a monthly virtual town hall where remote employees share updates, discuss challenges, and propose ideas, fostering communication and learning.

Consider Gamification: Gamification transforms remote training into an engaging experience. Incorporate points, badges, challenges, and leaderboards to spark competition and motivation. For example, award points for completing modules or participating in discussions. Create team challenges to foster collaboration, and utilize social features like chat rooms for interaction. Regularly update to sustain engagement.

Here are a few additional things to consider: Continuous improvement: Enhance existing activities to break remote learning monotony. If learners feel bored or demotivated, they will not show interest. Adjusting to align with the learning objective: Adjust activities to match community purpose and norms. Consistent pulse monitoring of employees: Perception and interest level of remote learners are key factors for the success of the learning community. Regularly ask employees about their activities and emotions. Be consistent in engagement: Engagement must be continuous and consistent in the community. For the community to thrive, it is crucial that every person feels actively involved.