How You Can Beat the Remote Skills Gap with Targeted Video Training

There was a time when remote working was the exception rather than the rule but all that has changed since COVID-19 sent a huge number of employees home. And although there are undoubtedly some great benefits to both businesses and employees, remote working is not without its speed bumps.



Following the move to remote work, many companies report a growing skills gap - something that can have a domino effect on progress and team performance as well as increasing the risk of errors.

Understanding The Remote Skills Gap

Traditionally, entire companies would operate from one building and this delightfully quaint working model does have its benefits. When teams and departments are all under one roof, skills and information can be passed on quickly and easily through conversations, impromptu meetings or just simple observation.

When staff are all squirrelled away in their own homes, this natural form of learning is lost; leading to some common issues including:

• New hires feeling unsupported and undirected
• Long term staff missing out on learning updates or platform changes
• Managers lacking visibility in terms of which employees need particular support
• Inconsistency due to departments and teams creating their own processes without standardised training
• Unequal access to learning materials; for example when an employee lives in an area with poor internet coverage

All of this can lead to confusion, frustration and a sense of disconnect within the business as a whole - particularly within fast paced industries like tech, healthcare and customer service where tools, and expectations, change quickly.

What’s The Solution?

As things stand, many companies rely on clunky online training, manuals or on-site sessions for their remote employees which, at best, is less than effective. This relies heavily on scheduling and / or physical presence and is therefore less than ideal for a busy organisation.



Instead, video training offers a significant number of benefits for remote workers and we’ll look at some of these in this section:

Any time, any place

One of the major advantages is that it can be delivered quickly and easily to all employees - whether they’re in Newcastle or Nepal.  On top of this, employees can watch the videos in their own time which means that it can be fitted around work and other responsibilities. This doesn’t, of course, require a physical location but, instead, allows learners to tap into courses on their laptop, mobile phone or even their television.

……and engage

Studies show that we absorb information much more comprehensively when watching a video compared to trudging through a manual or online module. Sound, visuals and professional pacing come together to create an engaging format which keeps the viewer’s attention and allows them to naturally retain more information.

Keeping it consistent

When learning alone online or with a manual, we can often misinterpret the information being relayed. With video, however, learners can actually watch a task being completed - something that we know improves our ability to grasp a concept. Here, every employee is receiving the same clear message which improves consistency and helps to build a tighter team.

Cutting cost, not quality

There’s no getting around it; live training sessions are costly to a business both in time and money - at a time when a lot of businesses can afford neither. There was a time when creating a video involved all sorts of costs such as studios, presenters and crew - but those days are in many ways gone. Now, thanks to AI driven tools, videos can be created and updated really cost-effectively.

Getting The Most From Your Video Training

If you’re new to this type of training, there’s a good chance that you won’t know where to start and so, in this section, we’re sharing some of our tips of the trade:

• Laser targeting - If you want your video to be effective, you need to remove the word “generic” from your vocabulary. It should be laser targeted for the best results and should be segmented into job function, task complexity and / or career level. Similarly, messaging should avoid vague language such as ‘improve communication’ - again, you need to be more specific here.
• Keep it concise - It’s important to keep in mind that your employees are busy; meaning that they don’t have the time to watch long rambling content. Keep it short and focused by sticking to one concept or step per clip. This method is much easier to digest and therefore better aids learning.
• Keeping it real - People tend to absorb a concept more fully when it’s explained as a real life scenario so a video which shows somebody using a new dashboard or handling a customer complaint has high value.
• Review and reflect - End your videos with a simple quiz or overview as this will help the learner to review what they’ve taken in and identify any areas that they need to revisit.

The Right Tools For The Job

In order to create great training videos, you’ll need the right equipment - but don’t worry, we’re not about to get all technical on you.



Instead, we’ll look at some of the stuff that will help you turn out professional looking training videos every time:

AI video generators

These are a game changer for companies who want to create a high standard of training without the high costs. These clever tools are able to take your existing materials and turn them into video with the minimum of fuss. This means that you can create content for onboarding and tutorials in record time.

Clip generators

Earlier, we mentioned the importance of keeping content short and sweet - and this is the tool that will help you do just that. Based on topic or timestamp, clip generators make light work of breaking lengthy lumps of video down into more palatable chunks.

Video compressors

Even with today’s technology, large files can be unwieldy with slow loading times and playback issues which can be frustrating for those with slow internet speeds. A video compressor solves this problem by compressing the size of the file without sacrificing quality.

Screen recording tools

These can be really useful if your video contains workflows or complex systems as they allow you to show this information backed up by voiceover support.

Tracking tools

Last - but certainly not least - tracking tools allow you to monitor, review and tweak your videos to make sure that they stay engaging and relevant.

We promised not to get techy and, the good news is that most of these tools are incredibly user-friendly so you’ll be up and running in no time.

Conclusion

While video training may not eliminate the skills gap completely, it can nevertheless close it up considerably. By creating engaging programs with clear communication and regular updates, you can ensure that your training is consistent and effective across every department, and across every role.