There are many benefits to online training. But if you are new to it - it's quite different than traditional methods. Here's some tips to help you get the most from online leadership training.

1. 5 tips to get great results with
Online Leadership Training
Debbie Narver BSc, MBA, MScIB

2. Benefits of Online Leadership
Training
• Convenience
• Eliminates Travel
• Can often be done at your own pace
and schedule.
• Often costs less than face-to-face
training.

3. Challenges with Online Training
• Keeping learners engaged
• Perception of less accountability
• How to evaluate effectiveness?
• How do you know if it’s good value?

4. 5 Tips to overcome these challenges

5. • WHY are you taking this training?
• What do you need to be able to do as a result of this course?
• When do you need these skills?
• How will you apply these skills?
• Do others in your organization also need this training?
Tip #1: Be Clear on Your Goals

6. • Some people can learn just by reading
• But many require a visual component: diagrams, images, videos…
• Other’s need to hear things explained
• While others need an experiential process (DOING)
• Realistically, many of us need a combination!
Tip #2: Align with Your Learning Style

7. You need an APPLIED component for learning leadership skills. That is, it
needs to go beyond theory and have you actually apply techniques to a real
world situation. In online learning, this could include:
•Reflective exercises
•Analytical thinking exercises
•Case study analysis
Be sure that you select courses with an applied component to help you truly
understand and be prepared to use these skills in your workplace.

8. This will guide your decision
on the type of course
Self Directed
Flexible
schedule
Structured,
“classroom”
Set times for
lessons,
assignments
Blended
Some
structure,
some
flexibility

9. Tips #3: Define Measurable
Results
How will you know if you have actually
developed the skills you need? Again,
this seems obvious. But sometimes,
employees get sent to training with
only a vague idea of what they will
learn. How do you know if they got
results and value from the investment?

10. Have clearly defined learning objectives. That is, specific
things you will be able to DO as a result of this training.
And then, we need some tools to determine if you have
actually achieved those results. For example:
•Self-assessment (quizzes and questionnaires)
•Instructor assessment (feedback on assignments and tests)
•Peer review (feedback from other experts, mentors)

11. Tip #4: Be Accountable to
Someone!
If you are extremely self-motivated,
perhaps you can hold yourself
accountable! If not, you need to find
someone (supervisor, co-worker,
friend…) that is willing to hold you
accountable – someone that you won’t
want to let down!

12. Set some target dates and milestones for your course.
• When will you finish the first lesson?
• When will you finish the course?
Get these dates into your calendar and schedule an
automatic reminder prior to those days.
Share them with the person that will hold you
accountable.
Ask them to check in with you on those dates.

13. Tips #5: Try a small
“pilot”
• If you are new to online training,
or looking to try a different type -
consider trying out a short course.
• That way, you don’t invest your
money & time, until you know if
this is a good approach for you.
• Try our free mini course on
Strategic Communication!

14. Be clear on
your goal
Be aware of
your
learning
style
Define
learning
outcomes &
measures
Be
accountable
to someone
Test it out on
a short course

15. AND IT’S FREE! Sign up now and get started:
https://strategic-manager.teachable.com/p/strategic-
communications-mini-course/
Instructor Debbie Narver BSc, MBA, MScIB
debbie@narvermanagement.ca
Strategic Communications
Mini Course