Culture training in the workplace plays a pivotal role in developing a healthy and inclusive work environment. Organizations are becoming more diverse and are working with more and more partners in different locations around the world, and are serving a wider range of clients. Given the globalization of today’s workforce, it is essential that every employee has the resources to develop their cultural competence so they can collaborate effectively with their colleagues—no matter if they’re right down the hall or on the other side of the world.
While many organizations believe cultural competence is an important skill for their workforce to prioritize, few provide cultural learning solutions beyond a one-time training session. However, more and more organizations are adapting to the dynamic nature of increasingly diverse workplaces and demonstrating a commitment to the development of their workforce with learning programs that impact the way employees collaborate with their global colleagues.
In the modern global workforce, cultural agility makes all the difference for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable success—and ongoing culture training in the workplace sustains and increases the impact. When people have the tools to grow their awareness of themselves and others, they can leverage their similarities and differences, work together more effectively, and advance more innovative ideas. This also has a positive effect on employee satisfaction, retention rates, and organizational success.
Workplace training has evolved to encompass a variety of methods and formats to meet the diverse needs of organizations and their employees. Learning experiences include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous training options to engage learners in different ways and at different points in their cultural learning journeys in order to maximize comprehension, application, and impact. Here are some popular training and learning formats:
One way organizations can facilitate a culture of ongoing learning is by providing easy access to online learning tools. This helps people continue to engage with concepts and gives them a better chance of retaining and applying what they’ve learned. In Aperian, tools like the GlobeSmart® Profile help team members leverage similarities and differences between their work styles, and the Inclusive Behaviors InventorySM provides a way for learners to identify their inclusion gaps and get advice on an action plan for growth. Tools like these make expert advice and guidance more accessible to learners and help to ensure sustainable and ongoing growth.
Live training adds an engaging dimension to cultural learning. With both in-person and virtual formats, individuals can learn directly from experts and practice new skills alongside their peers. New subscription-based live training services like Aperian Live enable employees to choose live training workshops that match their interests and align with their schedules and time zones. These cultural trainings leverage both the interactivity of live training and the efficiency of open-enrollment learning.
Learning modules empower employees to learn at their own pace with an interactive curriculum of relevant content. This format allows for a customized learning experience, enabling you to match cultural training content to your organizational learning goals and needs. Learning modules housed in a platform that employees can come back to again and again helps ensure retention, application, and sustained growth.
Measuring the impact of cultural learning takes time. Organizations can measure progress through employee feedback surveys, pre- and post-assessments, and user engagement with online learning content. These metrics provide insights into the effectiveness of ongoing training initiatives and areas for improvement. An experienced and strategic cultural training partner will help you determine the relevant metrics for success in your organizational learning journey.
Access to cultural learning resources is imperative for both personal and organizational growth. Aperian can shift your learning and development strategy to enable ongoing and sustainable growth. The platform is home to a wide range of learning experiences and content that build inclusion and cultural competence. Start a free trial of Aperian to gain access to ongoing cultural training that is valuable, relevant, and impactful.
