Did you know that informal learning plays a bigger role in employee development than formal learning? Here are four ways to facilitate informal learning.
If you reflect on how you actually learn in the workplace, you might realize that the best learning happened outside formal training sessions. You probably learned more by observing others, asking the person next to you, or by simply working with people who knew the job. This makes it evident that much of workplace learning happens through informal learning.
Informal learning is impromptu or spontaneous learning. It takes place not through structured training but is triggered and sustained by the learner’s intrinsic passion, need, and opportunity to learn. Even without realizing, informal learning in the workplace happens while imitating someone’s speech or writing style, taking cues from presentation skills, or discussions over a coffee.
Download this handy guide on blended learning.
Many of you however might get skeptical while considering informal learning for employees as it doesn’t match the conventional training via classroom or eLearning. Informal learning has incredible benefits that make it worthy for your corporate employees. Let’s see what benefits it brings to your learners:
- Offers adult learners a sense of control as they can choose when, what, and how to learn.
- Provides chances for collaboration between employees.
- Proceeds at the pace preferered by employees.
Organizations that leverage informal learning are more likely to remain at the top of their training and produce maximum business results. If you want to use informal learning at the workplace for optimal training, have a look at our infographic. The 4 ways shared to facilitate informal learning will help you make room for it in your organization.
