Remote training is nothing new. However, in recent years, it has become more prevalent all around the globe. At Globally Cool, we quickly adapted to the world of online training and in early 2020 we even launched our online Globally Cool Academy. By now, our seasoned trainers have already successfully conducted many online courses. So, you might be wondering: what works well in online training and what may not work at all? Then this blog is for you! We will share our experience and crucial do’s and don’ts in remote training!

The do’s in remote training

Naturally, we want to start off with the positives: the do’s in remote training. How can you motivate your audience? How can you ensure a training runs smoothly? Let’s find out!

1.     Do use a variety of training tools and media

People get bored rather quickly. Especially with all the distractions we have nowadays. Will you host a remote training of about two hours? Then we recommend you find a way to brighten it up a little from time to time. Using different tools to present can help avoid fatigue in participants and keep them focussed on the learning. Training should include frequent interaction moments between the trainer and the listeners. Provide opportunities for the participants by, for example, giving them some exercises, doing a little quiz or hosting discussions. Make use of chat functions, polls or even breakout rooms! Effective learning requires engagement with the material.

2.     Do keep a tight schedule

Time is a valuable asset – everybody has their own planning and places to be at a certain time. Be respectful of the time of others. It’s important to map out how long each part of your training will take. A little bit shorter or longer than planned is no problem, but ensure you don’t drag your training on for too long. Going overtime or losing control of the agenda can lower the morale of your participants and therefore result in less effective training.

3.     Do have an objective for your training

This might sound very logical, but it is key to always keep your objective in mind and portray it accordingly during a training. It is beneficial for everyone to have a well-structured training. Explain what specific skill(s) or knowledge participants will gain from your session. You can start an objective statement with the following phrase: “by the end of this training, you will be able to…”

4.     Do ask for feedback

Delivering remote training is fantastic. But how do you track your results and analyse if your training is well-received? Even for seasoned trainers, there’s always room for improvement. The best way to get to know what you might need to work on is by asking for feedback. This will give you actionable insights to further improve your remote training efforts. Having a strong feedback loop around your training will help you discover attention areas. In addition, this will support the learning of your participants as well. You can either conduct one-on-one sessions to ask for feedback, provide a post-training assessment or send out a survey for the participants to fill in. Learn from the feedback you receive and apply the findings to your next online training!

5.     Do be as respectful and responsive as possible

Online communication differs from face-to-face communication. It’s important to understand that people might misunderstand or wrongly interpret what you say – no matter how careful or clear you try to be. Ensure you are aware of the way you discuss topics online, regardless of whether it’s when asking questions or making a statement. At Globally Cool, we often give training to people from various countries and cultures, which is always something for us to be aware of. In the end, we all want to be treated with respect and – important! – to be listened to. Keep this in mind when you host a remote training. Know your audience and how to approach them!

The don’ts in remote training

Now let’s get to the less pleasant part: what not to do in remote training! There are some things you want to avoid doing in remote training. Ensuring you are aware of these is the first step. This will improve your remote training significantly and make it a pleasant learning experience for everyone.

1.     Don’t make your training too long

Remote training requires energy from both the presenter and participants. As we already mentioned, online meeting fatigue is a real problem. There is a limit to how long people can keep their focus online. Staring at a screen is not good for the eyes, be aware of that. We advise you to either host a couple of shorter sessions or make use of lots of short breaks for people to freshen up. No one likes sitting in a chair while looking at a screen for hours… The solution is clear! Schedule plenty toilet/coffee/cat petting breaks. 😉

2.     Don’t expect perfection

This counts for both you and the participants equally. In an ideal world, everybody is thoroughly prepared and virtual training will run utterly smoothly. However – in the real world 😛 – things go wrong and a lot might happen. Participants need to get used to following training online and technical difficulties may arise. This could cause training imperfections. What issues do we consider part of these training flaws? Delays, problems with cameras, not working microphones, a bad internet connection or other technical problems. Accept that these complications may arise and learn how to deal with them in a respectful manner. Not everyone has the same tools – or skills 😉 – for online training and that’s okay.

3.     Don’t overwhelm participants

Do not assign too much work to participants, as they are adjusting to online training too. Getting used to virtual training requires plenty of energy. Don’t overwhelm people! Small individual tasks are okay, but even better is giving group assignments for participants to work on together. It boosts group morale and will lead to more training fun.

And with that, we conclude our blog about the do’s and don’ts in remote training! We at Globally Cool use innovative tools and methodologies to create a highly interactive environment to amplify project results. Interested in off- and online coaching? We got your back! Find out how we successfully trained thousands of business people on subjects such as export marketing, market intelligence and digital marketing.