As our day-to-day lives become increasingly digital, it’s important to ensure we continue to make connections utilizing the benefits of technology rather than fighting against it. However, when it comes to elements such as social learning, which in a nutshell is all about learning from one another, how do we create an environment which encourages social learning through technology?

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of businesses maintained a “physical” training culture, be it sending people off on courses or bringing external experts into the workspace.

While there will always be a place for in-person training, it did come with its challenges. For example, there was often little-to-no post-session follow up, and employees were left unsure of how to carry out what they have learned in the flow of work. When we were forced to change our fundamental ways of working, many people saw the benefits switching to a digital model could create. Time and costs, for example, are both areas where businesses can make savings with a digital learning model, with people being able to learn on a schedule which suits them and reduce hours outside the business.

What’s more, with a globally dispersed or “digital nomad” workforce, it can be incredibly challenging to get everyone in the same room at the same time. A social and collaborative learning platform is the ticket to creating a more productive work environment.

So, why should business leaders care, and what are the benefits of encouraging people to maintain a culture of social learning?

Social Learning Leads to a More Engaged Workforce

Social learning is fundamentally a way to learn from our communities, whether that’s at school as when we were growing up, from our friends and family, and in later years our workplace. In the workplace, it allows us to tap into the important resource of support from peers and subject-matter experts. It can be as simple as watching the way your manager handles a situation, or more in-depth. However, what’s fundamental is communication to draw people in and give a greater insight into the culture of a business. Many businesses already do a fantastic job of creating an external community through social media platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, X, etc. Channelling that same energy internally and using resources which combine learning and communications can help create an internal social environment where people can interact, communicate, share and consume content, as well as ask questions and share answers. This encourages the theory of social learning but on a digital scale, allowing people to embrace social learning regardless of location.

Take, for example, The Abnormal Beauty Company, DECIEM. Working in partnership, together we built a tech-led learning and development strategy which brought to life a self-directed and co-constructed culture of learning and engagement. The way this is implemented is through three-minute videos posted each week onto their learning platform for all employees to see, discussing current company updates and what’s to come for the business. Through these short videos, employees can feel in-the-know and connected, no matter the department or where they are working.

Another great way to leverage a learning management system (LMS) is for collaboration. An LMS can act as a place where employees brainstorm ideas and initiatives, allowing everyone to identify and align on objectives. This allows learners to interact and hear more about key topics within the company they wish to focus their skills on and by having this collaborative community, everyone is set up for success to provide opinions and feedback, while gaining different perspectives and experiences.

Invest in the Experience

LMSs must be constantly updated to stay relevant and support its users whenever and wherever. Through working alongside clients and gaining feedback on what does and doesn’t work, a modern-day LMS can lead to companies consolidating content, skills and communications, ultimately helping employees learn fast and work more collaboratively. By taking the time to set priorities, learners can get the most out of their experience.

Social-first LMSs can offer personalized skills development and learning journeys that consider both learners’ strengths and areas for improvement. By investing in a unique learning experience, companies can create a high-performing workforce and yield the benefits that come with it, such as improved customer loyalty.

I’ve seen this in well-known retail brands such as Ted Baker, which uses a social-first LMS as a key element in compliance training, new employee onboarding, product training for sales and retail teams, internal communications and social learning. The platform enables Ted Baker teams across its portfolio to feel connected and unified no matter where they are based. Each employee has a unique and intuitive experience with recommendations specifically tailored to their roles and interests.

Create a Simple Platform for Company-Wide Communications

The bottom line will always play a role in the decision-making process for subject matter experts (SMEs). Consolidation tools that can combine both cost-saving methods while also enabling SMEs to operate more efficiently by bringing people together on one platform make business sense. This means finding a “one-stop-shop” which can deliver communications and updates, host policies and business-critical information, and deliver training and content that employees can access on the job.

Bringing everything together in one easy-to-use platform comes with a number of benefits. Firstly, it will improve the employee experience for SMEs by reducing “app fatigue” alongside the need to remember numerous complicated logins and passwords for multiple platforms.

What’s more, it will help bring people together and create a unified company culture. It creates a structured digital space to encourage amiable discussion and learning among employees, which can improve the employee experience.

In the long run, a platform that brings all of these elements together will allow employees to be more productive, all while saving time and money.