"Learning fuels growth." Microlearning works: I introduced short, focused training sessions during downtime, which made it easy not to overwhelm the team while learning. Leverage Online Tools: We used webinars and even bite-sized videos to stay updated perfect for busy schedules. Delegate and Share: Team members researched trends in rotation and them presented quick insights to keep learning collaborative and efficient. Apply as You Learn: Incorporating new ideas into daily tasks immediately made the process seamless and practical. This approach kept out team sharp while maintaining productivity.

In today's fast-paced world, staying ahead of industry trends is non-negotiable, but balancing that with daily responsibilities can feel like a tightrope walk. Here are some strategies I’ve found effective to ensure learning doesn’t disrupt productivity: Short, targeted sessions are game-changers. These "bite-sized" trainings focus on specific skills or knowledge areas and can be scheduled during low-impact times. Leveraging platforms like webinars, podcasts, and online courses allows team members to learn at their own pace. Lunch-and-learns can be incredibly impactful for spreading knowledge. By creating a culture of continuous learning, teams can seamlessly adapt to new trends without pausing the work that drives success.

While owners and leadership may be willing to come in early and stay late for extra learning, not all staff will have that motivation. Schedule short bursts of time for learning during the work day. If you can't find 30mins for your staff to spend on learning new technology, new systems or new skills, then learning new trends should not be your current priority. Set up some structure to their day and systems to yours, to allow space for reflection and learning.

Leverage online learning platforms such as Coursera, LinkedIn learning or Udemy for on-demand courses that employees can access at their convenience.

Depending how urgent it is to learn the new information will determine the extra time the team needs. My suggestion, come in 1 hour earlier to spend the time to learn what needs to be learned. Simple. Early in my career I wanted to learn excel (1980), so I went to my office at 5:30 am. I learned it well and didn't lose any of my productive hours.